Effective Date: November 2, 2024
Applies To: All Non-Exempt Employees (Drivers)
Purpose
To ensure every Alto employee has the opportunity to rest, recharge, and perform at their best. Regular meal and rest breaks help maintain safety, focus, and overall well-being during shifts.
General Guidelines
Alto provides meal and rest breaks in accordance with all applicable state and federal labor laws.
Meal Breaks are unpaid and last at least 30 minutes.
Rest Breaks are paid and may last up to 10 minutes.
Both must be properly recorded in the Alto Driver App.
Meal Breaks
All meal periods are off-duty and unpaid.
Meal breaks should not be taken at the start or end of a shift.
Employees must take their meal break within the first five hours of work (state-specific rules may vary — see Addendum A for California).
Drivers are responsible for ensuring their meal break is properly logged in the Alto Driver App.
How to Record Your Meal Break:
Go offline in the Uber Driver App (if applicable).
In the Alto Driver App, mark yourself as unavailable and select “Meal Break.”
Once finished, mark yourself available in the Alto Driver App and go back online in Uber.
⚠️ Failing to record breaks correctly, or going offline without taking your break, may result in disciplinary action.
Rest Breaks
Rest breaks are paid and should not exceed 10 minutes.
These should be taken midway through your work period and cannot be combined with meal breaks.
Rest breaks must not be taken at the start or end of a shift.
Drivers should mark rest breaks in the Alto Driver App by selecting “Rest Break.”
California Addendum (CA Drivers Only)
For employees working in California, additional requirements apply:
Meal Breaks:
Must begin no later than the end of the fifth hour of work.
A second 30-minute unpaid meal break is required if you work more than 10 hours in a day.
You must be completely relieved of all duties during meal breaks.
Do not work off the clock or skip meal periods to leave early.
Rest Breaks:
-
One 10-minute paid rest break for every 4 hours (or major fraction) worked.
3.5–6 hours = 1 break
6–10 hours = 2 breaks
10–14 hours = 3 breaks
Rest breaks should be taken in the middle of each work period when possible.
Breaks cannot be combined or taken at the beginning or end of shifts.
Heat Recovery Breaks:
Provided as needed to prevent heat-related illness when working outdoors.
No Working During Breaks
During meal and rest periods, employees must be completely relieved of all duties — this includes not checking messages, responding to dispatch, or monitoring communications.
Reporting Concerns
If you are unable to take a full or timely break, or feel pressured to skip breaks:
Contact HR here
Alto strictly prohibits any retaliation or coercion related to taking breaks.