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32. (1) An employer must ensure
(a) that no employee works more than 5 consecutive hours without a meal break, and
(b) that each meal break lasts at least 1/2 hour.
(2) An employer who requires an employee to work or be available for work during a meal break must count the meal break as time worked by the employee.
The Employment Standards Act is crystal-clear on this, an employer who doesn't give you a meal break after five consecutive hours is breaking the law. This is not the US where you can work 12 hours without a break.
In addition, there are no exceptions, every industry in BC is subject to this rule as far as I'm aware. Definitely contact the Ministry of Labour Employment Standards Branch, the only reason this goes on is because people don't speak up for their rights.
For the record, employers are not obliged to give coffee breaks.
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