ODRISA Overview & Exceptions

By Sonal Shah, JD, Assistant Director, Employment Law Services 
Published December 6, 2022

On January 1, 2023, the One Day Rest in Seven Act (ODRISA) amendments will go into effect. Under the amended act:

• Non-exempt employees must be provided one 24-hour day of rest in every consecutive seven-day period (rather than once per calendar week as is currently in effect).
• Employees who work 12 consecutive hours will be entitled to two 20-minute meal periods (rather than just the one 20-minute meal period for working 7.5 or more consecutive hours, as is currently in effect).

However, it is important to note that there are several exceptions to the ODRISA requirements (both as currently in effect and under the amendment).  

• Employers do not have to provide the one day off in every consecutive seven-day period to, among others, exempt employees, supervisors, part-time employees who work 20 or fewer hours in a calendar week, security guards, and those employees for whom work hours, days of work, and rest periods are established through the collective bargaining process.
• Employers do not have to provide the required meal periods to, among others, security guards and those employees for whom meal periods are established through the collective bargaining process.

For more information, see the amended law, including exceptions. 

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