DOL Opinion Letter Confirms Voluntary Off-Site Travel Does Not Make Meal Periods Compensable

On May 28, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued Opinion Letter FLSA2026-7, confirming that an employee’s choice to leave the worksite during an otherwise bona fide meal period does not convert the meal period into compensable work time under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), even if it reduces the employee’s available time to eat.... By: Littler