At the federal level, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require employers to provide rest and lunch breaks to their employees. However, it does dictate how employees must be compensated if an employer does choose to offer breaks:
- Short breaks, generally between 5 and 20 minutes, must be paid.
- Longer breaks, generally lasting 30 minutes or more, can be unpaid as long as the employee is completely relieved of their duties during the break.
In the absence of meal and break laws imposed at the federal level, many U.S. states have created their own state-specific laws. These state laws override FLSA requirements when they’re more favorable to employees, which is unanimously the case.
Employers who violate state rest and lunch break laws can be subject to penalties for violations, making it crucial for employers to understand and comply with state break laws.
In this guide, we provide a comprehensive overview of rest and lunch break laws by state, what penalties employers face for violations, and where employers can go for more information.
Buddy Punch makes it easy to stay compliant with meal and rest break laws no matter which U.S. states you operate in. Create break rules to ensure employees take their required breaks, specify whether those breaks should be paid or unpaid, and review detailed reports to ensure breaks are being taken as required. Learn more here or start a free 14-day trial.
Overview of rest and lunch break laws by state
The following table summarizes the key meal and lunch break laws across all of the U.S. states. Use it as a quick reference guide, then click on any state for more details about its specific laws.
State | Meal Break Requirements (Adults) | Rest Break Requirements (Adults) | Minor Break Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 5 hrs (14-15 yr olds) | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 5-6 hrs (under 18) | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | Not required by state law | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 6 hrs (under 16, entertainment) | |
30 min after 5 hrs (unpaid if duty-free); 2nd for 10+ hrs | 10 min paid for every 4 hrs | Adult rules apply | |
30 min after 5 hrs (unpaid if duty-free, paid if on-duty) | 10 min paid for every 4 hrs | No state law | |
30 min after 7.5 hrs (unpaid) | No state law (unless 30 min paid rest breaks offered) | No state law | |
30 min after 7.5 hrs (unpaid) | No state law (except for minors) | 30 min after 5 hrs (minors) | |
Not required by D.C. law | Not required by D.C. law | No D.C. law | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 4 hrs (under 18) | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 1 hr or 30 min meal + 30 min rest (all minors) | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 5 hrs (14-15 yr olds) | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | No state law | |
20 min after 7.5 hrs (unpaid if duty-free) | 2x 15 min for 7 hrs (hotel room attendants) | 30 min after 5 hrs (under 16) | |
No state law (private) | No state law (private) | 1-2 breaks totaling 30 min for 6+ hrs (under 18) | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 5 hrs (under 16) | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | No state law | |
“Reasonable” time after 3-5 hrs (unpaid) | 10 min paid for every 4 hrs | 30 min meal + 10 min rest (under 18) | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 5 hrs (minors) | |
30 min after 6 hrs (unpaid meal if duty-free) | 30 min after 6 hrs | No state law | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 5 hrs (under 18) | |
30 min after 6 hrs (unpaid) | Not required by state law | No state law | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 5 hrs (minors) | |
“Sufficient” time after 8 hrs | “Adequate” time for restroom every 4 hrs | No state law | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | No state law | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | Meal after 5.5 hrs + 15 min rest every 2 hrs (entertainment minors) | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | No state law | |
30 min for 8-hr shift (assembly, workshop, mechanical) | Not required by state law | No state law | |
30 min for 8 hrs (2+ employees) | 10 min paid for every 4 hrs | No state law | |
30 min after 5 hrs (unpaid if duty-free) | Not required by state law | No state law | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 5 hrs (minors) | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | No state law | |
30-60 min after 6 hrs (timing specific) | Not required by state law | No state law | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 5 hrs (under 16) | |
30 min after 5 hrs (2+ employees, unpaid if duty-free) | Not required by state law | No state law | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min unpaid after 5 hrs (minors) | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 5 hrs; 1 hr cumulative after 8 hrs (under 16) | |
30 min after 6 hrs (unpaid if duty-free, timed within shift) | 10 min paid for every 4 hrs | Same as adults (15 min rest, 30 min meal) | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 5 hrs (minors) | |
20 min after 6 hrs; 30 min after 8 hrs (5+ employees, unpaid) | Not required by state law | No state law | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | No state law | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | No state law | |
30 min unpaid after 6 hrs (5+ employees) | Not required by state law | Included in general rule | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | No state law | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min meal after 5 hrs (paid if on-duty); 10 min rest every 4 hrs (minors) | |
“Reasonable opportunities” to eat/use restroom (paid if <30 min) | “Reasonable opportunities” to eat/use restroom (paid if <30 min) | No state law | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 5 hrs (15 yr olds and younger) | |
30 min after 5 hrs (paid if on-duty, timed within shift) | 10 min paid for every 4 hrs | 10 min every 2 hrs + meal (under 16) | |
20 min after 6 hrs (unpaid if duty-free) | Not required by state law | 30 min after 5 hrs (under 16) | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | 30 min after 6 hrs (under 18, paid if on-duty) | |
Not required by state law | Not required by state law | No state law |
A detailed look at rest and lunch break laws by state
This section provides a more granular look at the meal and rest break laws for each U.S. state, covering specific requirements, exceptions, and enforcement agencies.
Alabama
Neither federal nor Alabama state law mandates meal or rest breaks for adult employees; federal rules apply. However, 14- and 15-year-old employees must receive a 30-minute meal or rest break after working more than five continuous hours.
For breastfeeding employees, Alabama law entitles them to a break to pump at work for one year after the child’s birth, though the specific duration is unspecified.
Alaska
Similar to Alabama, Alaska state law does not require meal or rest breaks for adult employees. For minors, employees under 18 must receive a 30-minute break during any shift of six or more consecutive hours, to be taken between the first hour and a half and the last hour of work. A 30-minute break is also required after five consecutive hours of work.
These rules can be modified by collective bargaining agreements or mutual employer-employee agreements.
Breastfeeding employees are entitled to a break to pump at work for one year after the child’s birth, with an unspecified duration.
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development enforces these regulations.
Arizona
Arizona state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for general adult employees, aligning with federal rules. There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for minors.
Breastfeeding employees are entitled to a break to pump at work for one year after the child’s birth, with no specified duration.
Notably, Arizona does have specific “Days of Rest” mandates, requiring railroad workers to be given nine hours of rest after 16 consecutive hours of work.
The Industrial Commission of Arizona is the enforcement agency.
Arkansas
Arkansas state law does not require meal or rest breaks for adult employees, adhering to federal guidelines.
For minors, those under 16 working in the entertainment industry must receive at least a 30-minute meal break after six hours of work. Other provisions for entertainment minors include 20-minute rest breaks and a mandatory 10-hour break between workdays.
Employers must provide reasonable unpaid break periods for employees to express breast milk, which should run concurrently with any other provided break time. Employers may also require that the employee take a lactation break during provided rest and meal breaks.
The Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing is responsible for enforcement.
California
California has some of the most comprehensive break laws in the nation. Employees must receive a 30-minute meal break for every five hours worked, or six hours for employees in the motion picture industry. This meal break can be waived if the workday is six hours or less.
For workdays lasting 10 hours but not exceeding 12 hours, the second meal break can be mutually waived if the first one was taken. If an employee is required to remain on duty during their meal period, it must be paid, and the employee’s written agreement is typically required.
As for rest breaks, employees generally receive a paid 10-minute rest break for every four hours (or major fraction thereof) worked, ideally scheduled in the middle of the work period. Employees cannot be required to work during these rest breaks.
For minors, adult break regulations generally apply.
Employers must provide a reasonable amount of unpaid break time for employees to express breast milk, which runs concurrently with other paid or unpaid rest time.
The California Labor Commissioner’s Office enforces these laws.
Colorado
Employers in Colorado are generally required to provide a 30-minute meal break for every five consecutive hours of work, to be taken between the first and last hour of the shift. If an employee is required to remain on duty during this time, the break must be paid. Otherwise, meal breaks are unpaid if they are uninterrupted and duty-free.
Regarding rest breaks, employees are generally entitled to a paid 10-minute rest break for every four hours (or major fraction thereof) worked, ideally in the middle of the work period. Employees working more than two hours receive one 10-minute break, more than six hours receive two, and more than 10 hours receive three.
There are no specific state laws for breaks for minors.
Employers must provide reasonable unpaid break time or permit employees to use paid break or meal time to express breast milk for up to two years after a child’s birth.
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment is the enforcement agency.
Connecticut
Employees in Connecticut are entitled to a 30-minute meal break for seven and a half consecutive hours of work, which must be provided between the first two hours and the last two hours of work. This meal break does not need to be paid.
There is no general state law requiring rest breaks, unless an employer offers paid rest breaks totaling 30 minutes for every seven and a half hours of work, in which case a meal break is not separately required.
No specific state laws exist for breaks for minors.
Breastfeeding employees are entitled to a break to pump at work for one year after the child’s birth, with an unspecified duration. Exceptions apply for certain employers if the continuous nature of the job requires employees to be available for urgent matters during breaks and they are compensated.
The Connecticut Department of Labor enforces these provisions.
Delaware
Employers in Delaware must provide a 30-minute unpaid meal break for every seven and a half consecutive hours worked, to be given between the first two hours and the last two hours of work.
For minors, a 30-minute rest break must be provided for every five continuous hours worked.
Employers cannot deny employees reasonable break time to express breast milk. Some sources indicate mandatory paid lactation breaks, per employee’s decision.
Exceptions to these requirements include situations where a collective bargaining agreement is in place, or if the continuous nature of the job requires the employee to respond to urgent matters during breaks and they are compensated. Employees can also waive their right to a meal break by signing a written agreement.
The Delaware Department of Labor is the enforcement agency.
District of Columbia
Neither D.C. law nor federal law mandates meal or rest breaks for general adult employees. There are no specific D.C. laws for breaks for minors.
However, employees must be given reasonable unpaid breaks to express breast milk, which should run concurrently with any paid or unpaid breaks already provided. Some sources specify these lactation breaks can be paid or unpaid, with the duration up to the employee as long as it’s reasonable, and they are required.
The District of Columbia Department of Employment Services is the enforcement agency.
Florida
Florida state law does not require meal or rest breaks for adult employees, aligning with federal guidelines. For minors, those under 18 must be given a 30-minute meal break for every four continuous hours of work.
Breastfeeding employees are entitled to a break to pump at work for one year after the child’s birth, with no specified duration.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Child Labor Program, enforces these laws.
Georgia
Neither federal nor Georgia state law requires breaks or meal periods for adult workers. For minors, all Georgia minors are entitled to a one-hour meal break, or a 30-minute meal break combined with an additional 30 minutes for rest or recreation.
Employers in Georgia must mandate reasonable break time for employees to express breast milk, and some sources indicate these are mandatory paid lactation breaks, with the duration determined by the employee.
The Georgia Department of Labor is the enforcement agency.
Hawaii
Hawaii state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for general adult employees, deferring to federal rules. For minors, 14- and 15-year-old employees must be provided with a 30-minute break after working five continuous hours.
Employees must be given reasonable break time to express breast milk for one year after a child’s birth, which is mandatory for businesses with more than 50 employees, but discretionary for those with fewer.
The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations enforces these regulations.
Idaho
Idaho state law does not require meal or rest breaks for adult employees, aligning with federal guidelines. There are no specific state laws for breaks for minors.
Breastfeeding employees are entitled to a break to pump at work for one year after the child’s birth, with no specified duration.
The Idaho Department of Labor is the enforcement agency.
Illinois
Employers in Illinois must offer 20-minute meal breaks to employees who work seven and a half continuous hours, to be provided no later than five hours after the shift starts. These breaks are not required to be paid unless the employee works through the break.
For minors, employees under 16 must receive a 30-minute meal break for every five hours of continuous work.
Regarding rest breaks, hotel room attendants in counties with populations over 3 million must receive two 15-minute rest breaks for every seven hours of work. Illinois is noted as a state with mandatory paid breaks.
Employers with more than five employees must provide reasonable break time for employees to express breast milk for one year after a child’s birth, which may run concurrently with other break time and may not reduce compensation.
Meal period requirements do not apply if meal periods are established through a collective bargaining agreement.
The Illinois Department of Labor enforces these laws.
Indiana
Indiana state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for private employers. For minors, employees under 18 who work six or more hours may be entitled to one or two breaks totaling 30 minutes. Additionally, employees younger than 16 must be given a 30-minute break if they are working five or more consecutive hours.
State and local governments must provide reasonable paid break time for employees to express breast milk, running concurrently with other break time.
The Indiana Department of Labor is the enforcement agency.
Iowa
Iowa state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for adult employees. For minors, employees under 16 years old must be provided with a 30-minute break for five hours of work. There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
The Iowa Division of Labor enforces these regulations.
Kansas
Kansas state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for any employees, including minors. There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
The Kansas Department of Labor is the enforcement agency.
Kentucky
Employers in Kentucky must provide a “reasonable” amount of time for employees to eat a meal off duty, ideally close to the middle of the shift, between the third and fifth hour of work. This meal period can be unpaid.
For rest breaks, employees must be given a paid 10-minute break for every four hours worked, in addition to any regularly scheduled lunch period. Kentucky is recognized as a state with mandatory paid breaks.
For minors, employees under 18 must receive a 30-minute meal break for every five continuous hours worked and a paid 10-minute rest break for every four hours worked.
Employers must make reasonable accommodations for employees who need to express breast milk.
Meal and rest break requirements do not negate related provisions of collective bargaining agreements or employer-employee agreements, and rest break requirements do not apply to employers subject to the Federal Railway Labor Act.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky Labor Cabinet enforces these laws.
Louisiana
Louisiana state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for adult employees. For minors, a 30-minute meal break must be given for every five hours worked.
Employers must make reasonable accommodations for employees to express breast milk, including more frequent or longer break periods.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission is the enforcement agency.
Maine
Employers in Maine must provide employees with a 30-minute break for six consecutive hours of work. This can be an unpaid meal break if the employee is completely relieved of all duties. There are no specific state laws for breaks for minors.
Employers must provide adequate unpaid break time or permit employees to use paid break or meal time to express breast milk for up to three years after childbirth.
Exceptions apply in emergencies, and small businesses with fewer than three employees on duty do not need to provide 30-minute breaks if the work allows frequent, shorter paid breaks. Requirements also do not apply when breaks are covered by a collective bargaining agreement or other written employer-employee agreement.
The Maine Department of Labor enforces these regulations.
Maryland
Maryland state law does not generally mandate meal breaks for adult employees.
However, specific rules apply to retail employees: those in retail establishments with 50 or more retail employees must receive a 15-minute break for four to six consecutive hours worked, or a 30-minute break for more than six consecutive hours. If a retail employee works eight consecutive hours, they are entitled to a 30-minute break and an additional 15-minute break for every additional four consecutive hours worked.
For minors, employees under 18 must receive a 30-minute break for every five consecutive hours worked.
There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
Retail employees and employers can waive the 15-minute break requirement in writing if hours do not exceed six consecutive hours.
The Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry, enforces these laws.
Massachusetts
Employees in Massachusetts must be given a 30-minute unpaid meal break if they work more than six hours in a day. Domestic workers must be compensated for meal and rest times unless they are completely relieved of duties and free to leave.
There are no specific state laws for general rest breaks or breaks for minors.
Employers cannot deny reasonable accommodations for expressing breast milk, including more frequent or longer paid or unpaid breaks.
Some businesses may be exempt from meal break requirements if they require continuous operation.
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division is the enforcement agency.
Michigan
Michigan state law does not generally mandate meal or rest breaks for adult employees. However, minors are entitled to a 30-minute meal or rest break for five continuous hours worked.
There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity enforces these regulations.
Minnesota
Employers in Minnesota must provide employees who work at least eight consecutive hours with “sufficient” time to eat a meal. Employees are also entitled to an “adequate” rest period to use the restroom for every four consecutive hours worked.
Minnesota is a state with mandatory paid breaks. There are no specific state laws for breaks for minors.
Employers must provide reasonable break periods for employees to express breast milk in the 12 months following childbirth, with these breaks running concurrently with other break times and not reducing compensation.
These rules do not override collective bargaining agreements.
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry is the enforcement agency.
Mississippi
Mississippi state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for any employees, including minors. There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
Missouri
Missouri state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for general adult employees. For minors in the entertainment industry, a meal break is required after 5.5 hours of work, plus a 15-minute rest break for every two hours of work.
There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is the enforcement agency.
Montana
Montana state law does not require meal or rest breaks. However, if bona fide meal periods (at least 30 minutes, employee completely relieved from duties) are provided, they need not be paid. Similarly, if rest periods between five and 20 minutes are provided, they should be compensated.
There are no specific state laws for breaks for minors or for expressing breast milk.
The Montana Department of Labor and Industry is the enforcement agency.
Nebraska
Employers in Nebraska must give employees in assembly plants, workshops, or mechanical establishments a 30-minute meal break for each eight-hour shift, with the ability to leave the premises. There are no general state laws for rest breaks or breaks for minors.
Employers must make reasonable accommodations for employees to express breast milk, including break time. Collective bargaining agreements or other written employer-employee agreements may alter meal break requirements.
The Nebraska Department of Labor enforces these regulations.
Nevada
Employers with two or more employees in Nevada must provide a 30-minute meal break for eight hours of continuous work. Employees must also be given a paid 10-minute rest break for every four hours (or major fraction thereof) worked, ideally close to the middle of the work period. Nevada is a state with mandatory paid breaks. There are no specific state laws for breaks for minors.
Employees are generally entitled to reasonable break time to express breast milk within one year of a child’s birth, which is paid if required by a collective bargaining agreement.
Employers may be exempt from break requirements if a business necessity prevents breaks or if employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
Nevada also requires domestic workers who work 40 hours or more per week to be given a rest period of at least 24 consecutive hours each week and at least 48 consecutive hours each month.
The Nevada Office of the Labor Commissioner enforces these laws.
New Hampshire
Employers in New Hampshire must give employees a 30-minute meal break for five consecutive hours of work, unless it is feasible to eat while working and the employer permits it. This break is not required to be paid if the employee is not required to work during the break.
There are no specific state laws for rest breaks, breaks for minors, or breaks for expressing breast milk.
The New Hampshire Department of Labor is the enforcement agency.
New Jersey
New Jersey state law does not generally mandate meal or rest breaks for adult employees. However, minors are entitled to a 30-minute lunch period after five continuous hours of work.
Employers cannot deny certain employees reasonable accommodations, including reasonable break time to express breast milk.
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development enforces these regulations.
New Mexico
New Mexico state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for general adult employees or minors. However, employers are required to provide flexible break times for employees to use a breast pump.
The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions is the enforcement agency.
New York
New York has detailed meal break requirements. Employees working more than six hours must generally be given a 30-minute break between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Factory employees receive a one-hour break in the same period.
Employees whose shift starts before 11:00 a.m. and ends after 7:00 p.m. are entitled to another 20-minute break between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. If a shift starts between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. and lasts more than six hours, a meal break is required in the middle of the shift (one hour for factory workers, 45 minutes for mercantile/other employees).
There are no specific state laws for rest breaks or breaks for minors.
Employers must provide reasonable unpaid break time or permit an employee to use paid break or meal time to express breast milk for up to three years after childbirth.
Meal periods may be made shorter with written permission from the commissioner.
New York also mandates a “Day of Rest,” requiring employers to provide certain employees with at least 24 consecutive hours of rest in any calendar week.
The New York Department of Labor enforces these laws.
North Carolina
North Carolina state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for adult employees. For minors, employees younger than 16 must be given a 30-minute rest break after five consecutive hours of work. Exceptions apply for minors employed as models, actors, performers in certain productions, or in outdoor drama production-related positions, who are exempt from the minor break rule.
There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
The North Carolina Department of Labor is the enforcement agency.
North Dakota
Employees in North Dakota are entitled to a 30-minute meal break if their shift lasts more than five hours and there are two or more employees on duty. This break is not required to be paid if the employee is relieved of all duties and the period is ordinarily 30 minutes long.
There are no specific state laws for rest breaks, breaks for minors, or breaks for expressing breast milk.
An employee may waive their right to this meal break in a written agreement, and collective bargaining agreements may also alter this rule.
The North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights enforces these regulations.
Ohio
Ohio state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for general adult employees. For minors, those under 18 are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid rest break for five consecutive hours of work. There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
The Ohio Department of Commerce is the enforcement agency.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma state law does not mandate meal breaks for adult employees. For rest breaks, employees under 16 years old must be given a 30-minute rest break for five consecutive hours of work and a one-hour cumulative rest break for eight consecutive hours of work.
Employers should give employees reasonable unpaid break time to express breast milk, running concurrently with other paid or unpaid break time. State agencies, however, must provide employees with paid break time to express breast milk.
The Oklahoma Department of Labor is the enforcement agency.
Oregon
Employees in Oregon are entitled to a 30-minute meal break for six hours of work, which is not required to be paid if the employee is completely relieved of all duties. The meal break must occur between the second and fifth hour if working seven or fewer hours, and between the third and sixth hour if working more than seven hours.
For rest breaks, employees are entitled to a paid 10-minute rest break for every four hours (or major part thereof) worked, ideally as close to the middle of the shift as possible. These rest breaks cannot be combined with meal periods or given at the beginning or end of the shift.
For minors, they are entitled to 15-minute rest breaks and 30-minute meal breaks in the same manner as adults, with no exceptions for meal periods.
Employers must provide reasonable unpaid rest breaks for employees to express breast milk, running concurrently with other rest or meal periods if possible. Breaks used for expressing breast milk should be paid if required by law or contract.
A shorter meal break is allowed if it is industry custom or creates undue hardship, but it must be paid. Employers need not provide a rest period for adult employees working less than five hours in a 16-continuous-hour period alone in retail/service, but they must still be able to use the restroom.
Collective bargaining agreements may modify these requirements.
The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries enforces these laws.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania state law does not generally mandate meal or rest breaks for adult employees. However, minors must be given a 30-minute meal break for five hours of continuous work.
Seasonal farmworkers are also specifically entitled to an unpaid 30-minute break after five hours of work.
There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is the enforcement agency.
Rhode Island
Employers in Rhode Island with at least five employees must provide a 20-minute meal break during a six-hour shift or a 30-minute meal break during an eight-hour shift. These breaks are not required to be compensated. There are no specific state laws for rest breaks or breaks for minors.
Employers must provide reasonable unpaid break time for employees to express breast milk, running concurrently with any other break already provided.
A meal break need not be provided if fewer than three employees are working on a shift, or if the employer is a licensed healthcare facility.
The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training enforces these regulations.
South Carolina
South Carolina state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for any employees, including minors.
Employees must be given reasonable unpaid break time or be permitted to use paid break time or meal time to express breast milk, running concurrently with other breaks if possible.
The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation is the enforcement agency.
South Dakota
South Dakota state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for any employees, including minors. There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation is the enforcement agency.
Tennessee
Employers in Tennessee with at least five employees must provide a 30-minute unpaid rest or meal break to employees (including minors) scheduled to work at least six consecutive hours. This break cannot be scheduled during or before the first hour of work.
Employers must provide reasonable unpaid break time for employees to express breast milk, running concurrently with other break time if possible.
Employers do not need to provide a break if the nature of the business provides ample opportunities for appropriate breaks.
Employees in the food service industry who receive and report tips may agree to waive their 30-minute break in writing.
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development enforces these laws.
Texas
Texas state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for any employees, including minors. There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
The Texas Workforce Commission is the enforcement agency.
Utah
Utah state law does not generally mandate meal or rest breaks for adult employees.
For minors, they are entitled to a 30-minute meal break for five hours of work, and this break must be paid if they are not relieved of all duties and permitted to leave the work area. Minors are also entitled to a 10-minute rest break for four hours (or fraction thereof) worked, and no minor may work more than three consecutive hours without a 10-minute break.
There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
The Utah Labor Commission is the enforcement agency.
Vermont
Employers in Vermont must give employees “reasonable opportunities” to eat and to use the restroom during work. This opportunity must be paid if it is less than 30 minutes. Vermont is noted as a state with mandatory paid breaks. There are no specific state laws for breaks for minors.
Employers must provide reasonable paid or unpaid time for employees to express breast milk.
The Vermont Department of Labor is the enforcement agency.
Virginia
Virginia state law does not generally mandate meal or rest breaks for adult employees. However, employees age 15 or younger are entitled to a 30-minute meal break for five continuous hours of work.
There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry is the enforcement agency.
Washington
Employers in Washington must provide employees with a 30-minute meal break for five consecutive hours of work, to be taken between the second and fifth hour. This break must be paid if the employee is required to remain on duty on the premises. Employees working three or more hours longer than their regular workday are entitled to an additional 30-minute break.
Agricultural employees have specific entitlements: a 30-minute break for more than five hours of work and another 30-minute break for more than 11 hours of work.
For rest breaks, employees are entitled to a 10-minute paid rest period for every four hours of work, scheduled as close to the middle of the period as possible. Employees cannot work more than three hours without a break. Washington is a state with mandatory paid breaks.
For minors, employees under 16 must be given at least a 10-minute break for every two hours of work and an uninterrupted meal period separate from these rest periods.
Employers cannot deny employees reasonable break time to express breast milk for two years following a child’s birth.
Employers are not required to schedule rest breaks if the nature of the work allows employees to take equivalent breaks.
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries enforces these laws.
West Virginia
Employers in West Virginia must provide a 20-minute meal break when working six or more hours in a shift. This meal break is unpaid if workers are free of work duties during this time. For minors, employees under age 16 must be given a 30-minute meal break for five continuous hours of work.
There are no specific state laws for rest breaks or breaks for expressing breast milk.
Meal breaks are not required if employees are permitted to take breaks as needed or to eat while working.
The West Virginia Division of Labor enforces these regulations.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin state law does not generally mandate meal or rest breaks for adult employees, though employers are encouraged to provide such breaks. For minors, employers are required to give employees under 18 a 30-minute meal break close to the middle of the shift or a regular mealtime. Minors cannot work more than six hours without a meal break.
Employers must pay employees during meal breaks if employees are not relieved of their duties for at least 30 minutes or are not permitted to leave the premises.
There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development enforces these laws.
Wyoming
Wyoming state law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for any employees, including minors. There are no specific state laws regarding breaks for expressing breast milk.
The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services is the enforcement agency.
Penalties for failing to comply with meal and rest break laws
If employers don’t follow federal or state meal and rest break laws, they can face serious consequences:
- Government agencies can fine employers up to $1,000 per violation under federal law, and more in some states (for example, $100 per violation per employee in Colorado).
- If child labor laws are broken, fines can reach $10,000 per violation.
- Employers may have to pay back wages and double that amount in damages.
- Employees can sue, and class action lawsuits can be very costly.
- Violations can trigger investigations, court orders, and long legal processes.
Best practices for employers in states without break laws
Even if your state doesn’t have its own specific break requirements, it’s good to follow these best practices:
- Create a written policy: Document your break procedures clearly in your employee handbook or attendance policy.
- Apply policies consistently: Avoid discrimination claims by ensuring uniform application across all employees.
- Respect federal rules: Remember that if you do offer short breaks, they must be paid.
- Monitor productivity: Well-designed break policies can improve employee performance and reduce mistakes.
- Stay informed: Laws change regularly, so review your policies annually.
- Consider meal periods: Even without requirements, providing unpaid 30-minute meal breaks is common practice.
Even without state mandates, thoughtful break policies demonstrate your commitment to employee wellbeing and can be a valuable recruitment and retention tool. Your break policy should balance operational needs with employee welfare to create a productive workplace.
Note: This list is for informational purposes only and reflects regulations as of 2025. Always consult official state websites or legal counsel for compliance-related matters.
How Buddy Punch helps you stay compliant with break laws
Buddy Punch’s employee time clock software comes with a break time tracker that makes it easy to enforce and document required breaks. You can set up break rules that specify how long a break needs to be, when an employee should take it, and whether the time spent on break should be paid or unpaid.
Employees can turn on notifications so they’re alerted when it’s time for them to take a break, and you can even schedule employees for breaks at specific times if you’re using our employee scheduling feature.
All paid and unpaid breaks are listed on employees’ timesheets, you can view detailed in-and-out reports to make sure employees are taking breaks as required, and you can also download all time tracking reports for your records.
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