4.1 Breaks to Rest #

HFC employees are encouraged to take short breaks to rest and prepare for the next task they must perform at any time during their shift, as long as no patients or other staff are waiting on them for care or services. There is no limit on the number of breaks staff members can take, but they should be limited in time since there are many tasks that should be done when direct patient care isn’t necessary.

💡 Certain areas of the office (front desk) should never be left unattended during a shift. If you are the only team member in one of these areas please do not leave the area until you can be replaced by another team member. If you must step away for an emergency, please find someone to attend the area for you.

4.2 Meal Breaks #

During a “two-shift-day,” employees are expected to clock out for their meal break. Employees may eat in the break room. Employees may also eat elsewhere in the building as long as meals or large snacks are not eaten in plain sight while patients are in the office.

Meals should be completed before clocking in for meetings and team huddles. There may be some exceptions for special meetings that include meals or “working lunches” that require an employee to eat later.

4.3 Other Breaks #

Restroom breaks and breastfeeding breaks can be taken whenever necessary as long as there are no patients waiting for care. The front desk and adjustment area should never be left unattended during open office hours, so this should be considered when taking a bathroom, breastfeeding, or rest break.

4.4 Phones, Calls, and Other Screens #

Personal phones should be kept out of sight from patients as much as possible. Personal phone calls should only be taken in non-shift hours. If an emergency call longer than 10 minutes is required, the team member should clock out to take or make the call. If possible, calls and/or messages should not be taken or made when patients are waiting or needing care.

To prevent a divided focus that can lead to mistakes, team members should avoid using their screens for social media or entertainment purposes while on the clock, especially during shift hours. If your phone is used during a break, it should only be done in the break room, and the volume of your phone, as well as your discussion, should not interfere with the patient’s experience in any way.

4.5 The Break Room #

The Break Room at HFC is a benefit to all of the staff and thus should be treated with care by all employees. The cleanliness of the breakroom is the responsibility of the entire staff. Please follow these few important guidelines to ensure a clean, safe, and useful break room.

Personal Items

Please do not store your personal items on the table or on the floor of the breakroom. This can result in a safety hazard, as well as not allowing ample room for other staff to take their breaks or do their work. Please use the hooks in the fitness studio or another location, out of site from patients, to store any of your personal items.

Dishes

Please be responsible for your own dishes. The best scenario is immediately washing, drying, and putting away your dish when you have finished with it. If this is impossible due to time, then please return at your next availability to clean your dishes.

Refrigerator and Cabinets

Food that is left unlabeled and on the table, in the cabinets, or in the refrigerator will be considered available to anyone. Please mark your food or keep it in your own personal container to ensure that other members of the staff will be aware that it belongs to you.

Labeled food, drinks, or other supplies should not be used by any staff who it does not belong to.

Cleanliness

Please follow a simple “if I made the mess, I will clean it up” guideline in the breakroom and throughout the office. This will ensure that the office stays neat and that everyone has a clean and safe work environment.

Strong Smelling Foods

To avoid complaints about odors or allergies from patients and fellow team members, food should not be heated during a shift.