; and (B) shall not impede or discourage a direct care professional from taking such meal break. (b) Rest breaks (1) In general Except as provided in subsection (c), for every 4 hours of work that a direct care professional is scheduled to perform for a covered entity, the entity shall allow the direct care professional a rest break of not less than 10 uninterrupted minutes in which the direct care professional is relieved of all duties related to providing long-term care services to the entity. The entity shall allow such rest break to occur during the first 3 hours of consecutive work performed by the direct care professional for the entity. (2) Rate of pay A covered entity shall pay a direct care professional for the times spent by the direct care professional for a rest break under paragraph (1) at the regular rate of pay of the direct care professional. The hiring entity shall not impede or discourage a direct care professional from taking such break. (c) Exceptions (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), a direct care professional may not have the right to a meal break under subsection (a), or a rest break under subsection (b), in a case in which the safety of an individual under the care of the direct care professional prevents the direct care professional from taking such break. (2) On-duty breaks (A) Definition of on-duty In this subsection, the term on-duty , with respect to a meal break under subsection (a) or a rest break under subsection (b), means such a break in which the direct care professional— (i) is not relieved of all duties of the direct care professional for the covered entity