Some organizations will pay employees for a fixed amount of time off for a meal break if they work more than a set number of hours in a day. For example, if employees work more than 10 hours in a day, they are awarded an extra half-hour of pay as long as they turn in a receipt as evidence of having purchased a meal. This extra amount is typically paid at an overtime pay rate.

If an employer gives time off for a meal break partway through a shift, such as lunch, this does not have to be paid time as long as the employees are relieved from all work responsibilities during the time period. If they are required to be on call during this period, then the employer would otherwise have had to pay someone else to take that position, so employees should receive compensation for this type of meal break.