U.S. Rest and Lunch Break Laws By State

U.S. federal law does not mandate how often employees must be provided breaks. It states only that employees must be paid for any short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long) an employer offers. Lunch breaks, typically lasting 30 minutes or more, do not count as work time and do not have to be paid for as long as employees are completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Alabama

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	14-15 year-old employees must get a 30 minute break for every 5 consecutive hours worked

Alabama does not mandate that employers provide employees that are 16 years of age or older with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Alabama does have a break law for minor employees aged 14-15: These employees must be given a 30 minute unpaid meal break for every five consecutive hours worked.

Source: Alabama Department of Labor

Alaska

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Rest break requirements	Not mandated by state law	14-17 year-old employees must get a 30 minute break for every 5 consecutive hours worked

Alaska does not mandate that employers provide employees that are 18 years of age or older with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Alaska does have a break law for minor employees aged 14-17: These employees must be given a 30 minute unpaid meal break for every five consecutive hours worked.

Source: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development

Arizona

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Rest break requirements	Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law

Arizona does not mandate that employers provide employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

There is currently a proposed bill going through legislature that, if passed, would require employers to provide employees with a 30-minute unpaid meal break when working more than five hours in a day, an additional 30-minute unpaid meal break when working more than 12 hours in a day, and a paid 10-minute rest break for every four hours worked. Keep an eye on HB 2797 for updates.

Source: Arizona State Legislature

Arkansas

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Rest break requirements	Not mandated by state law	Minors under the age of 16 who work in the entertainment industry must be provided with rest breaks

Arkansas does not mandate that employers provide employees that are 16 years of age or older with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Arkansas does have a break law for minor employees who are younger than 16 who work specifically in the entertainment industry (the law does not apply to minors in other industries). These employees must be given rest breaks, though it’s unclear how long those breaks should be and how often they must be given. Contact the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing for more information.

Source: Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing

California

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
A paid 10-minute rest break is required for every 4 hours worked	An unpaid 30-minute meal break is required when an employee works more than 5 hours in a day; if working more than 10 hours in a day, two 30-minute unpaid meal breaks are required	Minors are entitled to the same breaks as adults

In California, employers must provide 10-minute paid rest breaks to adult and minor employees for every four hours worked, and 30-minute meal breaks are required when an employee works for more than 5 hours in a day. If an employee works more than 10 hours in a day, a second 30-minute unpaid lunch break must also be provided.

If an employee works more than five but less than six hours in a day, the required meal break can be waived if both the employer and employee agree to it. Similarly, if an employee works more than 10 but fewer than 12 hours in a day, the employer and employee can mutually agree to waive the second required meal break. Note that there are additional rules for employees in certain industries.

It’s also important to note that employees must be completely relieved from duty and allowed to leave the premises in order for their meal break to be unpaid. If an employee must stay on the premises or is required to be on call during their meal break, the meal break must be paid.

Source: State of California Department of Industrial Relations

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Colorado

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
A paid 10-minute rest break is required for every 4 hours worked (or major fraction thereof)	An unpaid 30-minute meal break is required when an employee works more than 5 hours in a shift	Minors are entitled to the same breaks as adults

Colorado’s rest break laws are complicated. Both adult and minor employees must be provided a 10-minute paid rest period for every four hours of work, but the requirement starts if an employee works one minute more than two hours in a shift. So if an employee works two hours and one minute, they must receive an unpaid rest break at some point during that shift, ideally in the middle of the work period.

Employees may waive their right to take a rest break provided that they agreed on their own to do so and were not encouraged or coerced by the employer to do so.

Additionally, adult and minor employees must be given a 30-minute unpaid meal break for all shifts that exceed five consecutive hours. That meal break must be provided at least one hour after a shift starts and one hour before the shift ends, and it can only be unpaid if the employee is completely relieved from their duties and allowed to leave the job site.

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment provides lots of details and examples of exactly when employees must be given breaks if you want more information.

Source: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

Struggling to track and enforce Colorado’s complicated break laws? Buddy Punch can help! It will prompt employees to clock out when it’s time for a break and prevent them from clocking back in if they didn’t stay on break for the required time. Plus, you’ll get detailed reports you can reference when questions come up. Learn more about break tracking in Buddy Punch.

Connecticut

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	An unpaid 30-minute break is required for any shift exceeding 7.5 consecutive hours	Minors are entitled to the same breaks as adults

Connecticut law requires employers to provide employees with a 30-minute unpaid rest break for any shift that exceeds 7.5 hours. That break must be provided after the first two hours of the shift and before the employee has worked 5.5 consecutive hours.

In some cases (such as when compliance could harm public safety, when there are fewer than five employees working on a shift, when only the employee can perform their work, or when employee must be available to respond to urgent conditions), the break may be waived or taken while on duty, but in these cases, the employer must pay the employee for the break’s duration.

Additionally, the law does leave an opening for employers and employees to agree to meal periods that don’t match state laws, but doing so requires agreement from both parties.

Source: Connecticut General Assembly

Delaware

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	An unpaid 30-minute break is required for any shift exceeding 7.5 consecutive hours	Must be provided with an unpaid 30-minute break when working more than 5 consecutive hours

Delaware law requires employers to provide employees with a 30-minute unpaid rest break for any shift that exceeds 7.5 hours. That break must be provided after the first two hours of the shift and before the final two hours of the shift.

In some cases (such as when compliance could harm public safety, when there are fewer than five employees working on a shift, when only the employee can perform their work, or when employee must be available to respond to urgent conditions), the break may be waived or taken while on duty, but in these cases, the employer must pay the employee for the break’s duration and allow the employee to eat a meal at their workstation.

Delaware’s meal break requirements for minors (employees under 18) are more stringent: an unpaid 30-minute meal break must be provided to any minor who works more than 5 consecutive hours in a shift.

Source: Delaware Office of Labor Law Enforcement

Florida

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Employee under 18 must be provided with an unpaid 30-minute break when working more than 4 consecutive hours

Florida does not mandate that employers provide employees that are 18 years of age or older with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Florida does have meal break laws for minors (employees under age 18). Minors are not permitted to work more than four consecutive hours without receiving a 30-minute unpaid meal break. The law applies for every four consecutive hours worked, so a minor employee working eight hours and one minute would need to be provided two separate 30-minute meal breaks over the course of the shift.

Source: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation

Georgia

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law

Georgia does not mandate that employers provide employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Source: Georgia Department of Labor 

Hawaii

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	14-15 year-old employees must get a 30 minute break for every 5 consecutive hours worked

Hawaii does not mandate that employers provide employees that are 16 years of age or older with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Hawaii does have a break law for minor employees aged 14-15: These employees must be given a 30-minute unpaid meal break for every five consecutive hours worked.

Source: Hawaii Wage Standards Division

Idaho

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law

Idaho does not mandate that employers provide employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Source: Idaho Department of Labor

Illinois

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	An unpaid 20-minute break is required for any shift exceeding 7.5 consecutive hours, and two 20-minute unpaid breaks must be provided for any shift exceeding 12 hours	A 30-minute meal break must be provided no later than the fifth consecutive hour of work

Illinois law requires employers to provide adult employees with a 20-minute unpaid rest break for any shift that exceeds 7.5 hours. That break must be provided no later than five hours after the start of the shift.

Illinois meal break requirements for minors (employees under 18) are more stringent: an unpaid 30-minute meal break must be provided to any minor who works more than 5 consecutive hours in a shift, and the break must be provided no later than the fifth consecutive hour of work.

Source: Illinois Department of Labor

Indiana

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Employees under 18 must be provided with 1-2 breaks totaling at least 30 minutes when scheduled to work 6 hours or more

Indiana does not mandate that employers provide employees that are 18 years of age or older with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Indiana does have meal break laws for minors (employees under age 18). Minors must be provided with either one or two breaks totaling 30 minutes in total duration when they are scheduled to work six or more hours in a shift.

Source: Indiana Department of Labor

Iowa

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Employees who are younger than 16 must be provided with a 30-minute break when working five or more hours in a day

Iowa does not mandate that employers provide employees that are 16 years of age or older with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Iowa does have meal break laws for employees under age 16. These employees must be provided with a 30-minute unpaid break when they are scheduled to work five or more hours in a shift.

Source: Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing

Kansas

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law

Kansas does not mandate that employers provide employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Source: Kansas Department of Labor

Kentucky

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
10 minutes for every 4 consecutive hours worked	A “reasonable” meal period is required between the third and fifth hour of work	A 30-minute documented break must be provided for every 5 consecutive hours worked

Kentucky has state meal and rest break laws for both adult and minor employees. Adult employees must be provided with a 10-minute paid break for every four consecutive hours worked and a meal break of a “reasonable duration” between the third and fifth hours of work. The state does not specify the length required for the meal break, but keep in mind that federal law states that a 20-minute break must be paid while a 30-minute break can be unpaid.

Adult rest break laws also apply to minors, but minors also have a separate meal break law. Any employee under the age of 18 in Kentucky must be provided with a 30-minute documented break for every five consecutive hours worked.

Source: Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet

Louisiana

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Employees under 16 must be provided with a 30 minute meal break for every 5 consecutive hours worked

Louisiana does not mandate that employers provide employees that are 16 years of age or older with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Louisiana does have meal break laws for minors under age 16. Employees under 16 must be provided with a 30-minute meal break for every 5 consecutive hours worked. This break must be documented in the employer’s timekeeping system. If the employee fails to clock out for the break, the edit to the employee’s timesheet must be acknowledged in writing by both the minor and the person making the edit.

Source: Louisiana State Legislature

Maine

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	30 minutes for every 6 consecutive hours worked	Minors are entitled to the same breaks as adults

In Maine, all employees must be provided with a 30-minute meal break for every six consecutive hours worked. The break can be unpaid as long as the employee is completely relieved of duty. However, there are some exemptions: the break does not have to be provided if there are fewer than three employees on duty at one time or if the nature of the work required the employee to take more frequent, paid short breaks instead of a longer 30-minute unpaid break.

Source: Maine Legislature

Maryland

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	A 30-minute unpaid break is required for every 5 hours of work

Maryland does not mandate that employers provide employees that are 18 years of age or older with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Maryland does have meal break laws for minors under age 18. Minors must be provided with a 30-minute unpaid meal break for every 5 hours worked.

Source: Maryland Department of Labor

Massachusetts

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	30 minutes unpaid for every 6 hours worked	Minors are entitled to the same breaks as adults

Massachusetts requires employers to provide all employees with a 30-minute unpaid break for every six hours worked. For the meal break to be unpaid, the employee must be completely relieved of duty and free to leave the premises. However, the employee can choose to waive the meal break at the employer’s request, but in that case, the break must be paid. Rest breaks are not mandated by the state’s laws.

Source: Massachusetts Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division

Michigan

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Employees under 18 must be provided with a 30-minute meal break for every 5 consecutive hours worked

Michigan does not mandate that employers provide employees that are 18 years of age or older with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Michigan does have meal break laws for minors under age 18. Minors must be provided with a 30-minute uninterrupted meal break for every five consecutive hours worked. This break must be documented in the employer’s timekeeping system, which must include the employee’s starting time at the beginning of the shift, the break start time, the break end time, and the employee’s clock-out time at the end of the shift.

Source: Michigan Wage and Hour Division

Minnesota

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
At least 15 minutes for every 4 hours worked	At least 30 minutes when working 6 or more consecutive hours	Minors are entitled to the same breaks as adults

Minnesota law requires employers to provide both adult and minor employees with rest and meal breaks depending on the number of hours worked in a shift. A rest break of at least 15 minutes is required for every four consecutive hours worked, and a meal break lasting at least 30 minutes is required when an employee works six or more consecutive hours in a shift.

If a break is less than 20 minutes in duration, it must be paid. For breaks longer than 20 minutes to be unpaid, the employee must be completely relieved of their work duties.

Source: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

Mississippi

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law

Mississippi does not mandate that employers provide employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division

Missouri

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	(Entertainment industry only) Employees under 16 must be provided with a 15-minute rest break for every 2 hours worked and a meal break if working 5.5 hours or more

With one exception, Missouri does not mandate that employers provide employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

The one exception is for minors under the age of 16 working specifically in the entertainment industry. A 15-minute paid break is required for these workers after each two continuous hours of work, and these employees cannot work more than five and a half hours without being provided with a longer meal break. The state does not specify the length of duration required for the meal break.

Source: Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

Montana

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law

Montana does not mandate that employers provide employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Source: Montana Department of Labor and Industry

Nebraska

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	(Workshops, manufacturing plants, and assembly lines only) 30-minute unpaid break for every 8-hour shift	Minors are entitled to the same breaks as adults

With a few exceptions, Nebraska does not mandate that employers provide employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. If you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Meal breaks are required for employees working in workshops, manufacturing plants, and assembly lines. These employees must be provided with a 30-minute unpaid break for every 8-hour shift.

Source: Nebraska Department of Labor

Nevada

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
10 minutes paid for every 4 hours of work	30 minutes unpaid for every 8 hours of work	Minors are entitled to the same breaks as adults

Nevada state laws mandate that employers provide both adult and minor employees with both rest and meal breaks. A 10-minute paid rest break must be provided for every four hours worked, and a 30-minute unpaid meal break is required for every eight hours of work. An employee may agree to work instead of taking a required break, but the employer must be able to prove that the employee agreed to do so.

Source:  Nevada Department of Business and Industry

New Hampshire

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	30 minutes for every 5 consecutive hours worked	Minors are entitled to the same breaks as adults

New Hampshire state law does not mandate employers to provide employees with rest breaks. However, meal breaks of 30 minutes are required for any adult or minor employee working more than five consecutive hours in a shift.

Source:  New Hampshire Department of Labor

New Jersey

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	30 minutes after 6 consecutive hours of work

New Jersey does not mandate that employers provide adult employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

New Jersey does have meal break laws for minor employees under the age of 18. Minors must be given a 30-minute meal break after six continuous hours of work. Those breaks must be uninterrupted 30-minute durations — multiple shorter breaks equaling 30 minutes in total duration do not count toward the 30-minute uninterrupted break requirement.

Source:  New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development

New Mexico

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law

New Mexico does not mandate that employers provide employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Source:  New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions

New York

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	(Non-factory workers) 30 minutes unpaid for every 6 consecutive hours of work (Factory workers) 60 minutes unpaid for every 6 consecutive hours of work	Minors are entitled to the same breaks as adults

New York does not mandate rest breaks for employees. However, 30-minute meal breaks are required for non-factory adult and minor employees for every six consecutive hours of work.

Employees working in factories have different meal break requirements. Factory Workers are entitled to a 60-minute lunch break during the middle three hours of a shift for any shift lasting more than six hours.

There are some exemptions to these laws, and employers can apply to request the ability to have shorter meal break lengths. The laws of the state are somewhat complex, so we recommend checking with the New York State Department of Labor to fully understand what laws and break timings apply to your specific business and industry.

Source:  New York State Department of Labor documentation and FAQs

North Carolina

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Employees under 16 get 30-minute meal breaks after 5 consecutive hours of work

North Carolina does not mandate that employers provide employees over 16 years of age with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

North Carolina does have meal break laws for minor employees under the age of 16. Employees younger than 16 must be given a 30-minute meal break after five continuous hours of work. Those breaks must be uninterrupted 30-minute durations, and the employee must be completely relieved of their work duties during the break.

Source:  North Carolina Department of Labor

North Dakota

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	30-minutes unpaid for shifts exceeding 5 hours when 2 or more employees are on duty	Minors are entitled to the same breaks as adults

North Dakota state law mandates that all employees be provided with an unpaid meal break lasting at least 30 minutes when working a shift that is longer than five hours. Shorter rest breaks are not mandated by state law, but if they are provided, they must be paid.

Source:  North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights

Ohio

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Employees under 18 get 30 minute meal breaks after 5 consecutive hours of work

Ohio does not mandate that employers provide adult employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Ohio does have meal break laws for minor employees under the age of 18. Employees younger than 18 must be given a 30-minute meal break after five continuous hours of work.

Source:  Ohio Department of Commerce

Oklahoma

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Employees aged 14 or 15 get a 60-minute meal break when working 8 consecutive hours or a 30-minute meal break when working 5 consecutive hours

Oklahoma does not mandate that employers provide employees who are 16 years-old and older with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Oklahoma does have meal break laws for minor employees 14 and 15 years of age. Employees younger than 16 must be given a 60-minute rest period when working eight consecutive hours or a 30-minute rest period when working five consecutive hours.

Source:  Oklahoma Department of Labor

Oregon

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Two 10-minute rest breaks for every 8-hour shift	One 30-minute meal break for every 8-hour shift	15-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked; 30-minute meal break for every 6 hours worked

Oregon law requires employers to provide all adult employees with two rest periods of at least 10 minutes for every eight hours worked and one meal break of at least 30 minutes for every eight hours worked. Even if an employee does not work eight total hours, breaks are still required based on the number of hours they work. The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries maintains a detailed table showing the number of rest and meal breaks an employee is entitled to on their website.

In the healthcare industry specifically, employers may be fined if employees do not get to take state-mandated breaks, so it’s key for healthcare companies to maintain detailed timekeeping records showing employees’ start, end, and break times for every shift.

Minors in Oregon have different laws for required meal and rest breaks. Minors must receive a paid, 15-minute rest break for every work segment of four hours or the major portion thereof (any period longer than two hours). Additionally, they must receive a 30-minute meal break when working six or more hours. The meal break may be unpaid as long as they are completely relieved of all duties during the break.

Source: Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries regulations for adults and minors

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Pennsylvania

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Employees under 18 get 30-minute meal breaks when working 5 or more consecutive hours

Pennsylvania does not mandate that employers provide adult employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Pennsylvania does have meal break laws for minor employees under the age of 18. Employees younger than 18 must be given a 30-minute meal break when working more than five consecutive hours.

Source: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	20 minutes unpaid for a 6-hour shift or 30 minutes unpaid for an 8-hour shift	Minors are entitled to the same breaks as adults

Rhode Island has no rest break laws, but it does have meal break laws. All employees must be given a 20-minute unpaid meal break for a 6-hour shift or a 30-minute unpaid meal break for an 8-hour shift. Note that this law does not apply to workers in licensed healthcare facilities or companies with fewer than three employees at one site during a shift.

Source: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training

South Carolina

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law

South Carolina does not mandate that employers provide employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Source: South Carolina Labor Licensing Regulation

South Dakota

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law

South Dakota does not mandate that employers provide employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Source: South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation

Tennessee

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	30 minutes unpaid when scheduled to work 6 consecutive hours	Minors are entitled to the same breaks as adults

Tennessee has no rest break laws, but it does have meal break laws. All employees must be given a 30-minute unpaid meal break when scheduled to work more than six consecutive hours. Some exceptions may apply if the nature of your business does not allow for periods where employees could reasonably take breaks.

Source: Tennessee Department of Workforce and Development

Texas

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law

The state of Texas does not mandate that employers provide employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

It’s important to note that some cities in Texas do have their own city-specific regulations for required breaks.

Source: Texas Guidebook for Employers

Utah

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Eployee under 18 must get a 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked and a 30-minute lunch break within the first 5 hours of a shift

Utah does not mandate that employers provide adult employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Utah does have meal break laws for minor employees under the age of 18. Employees younger than 18 must be given a 10-minute rest break for each four hours worked; minors cannot work more than three hours without a 10-minute break. Additionally, minors working more than five consecutive hours must be given a 30-minute meal break within the first five hours of their workday.

Source: Utah Labor Commission

Vermont

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
“Reasonable opportunity”	“Reasonable opportunity”	“Reasonable opportunity”

Vermont law states only that “an employer must provide its employees with “reasonable opportunity to eat and use toilet facilities.” So breaks are required, but the law is not specific on when those breaks must be taken or how long they must last.

Source: Vermont Department of Labor

Virginia

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Employees under 16 must get a 30-minute lunch break when working more than 5 hours

Virginia does not mandate that employers provide employees aged 16 or older with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Virginia does have meal break laws for minor employees under the age of 16. Employees younger than 15 must be given a lunch break of at least 30 minutes for every five consecutive hours worked. These employees are not allowed to work more than five hours without receiving a break.

Source: Virginia Legislative Information System

Washington

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
10 minutes for every 4 hours worked	30 minutes when working more than 5 consecutive hours	10 minute rest break for every two hours worked; meal break for every four hours worked

Washington has rest and meal break laws for both adult and minor employees. Adults must receive a 10-minute paid rest break for every four hours worked, and employees cannot work more than three consecutive hours without receiving a rest break. A 30-minute unpaid meal break is also required for shifts longer than five hours and must occur between the second and fifth hour of the shift.

Minor employees get a 10-minute paid rest break for every two hours worked, and breaks must be scheduled as close to the midpoint of each 2-hour bracket as possible. Additionally, a 30-minute unpaid lunch break is required if a minor works more than five hours in a day. Minors cannot work more than four hours without receiving an uninterrupted meal break.

Source: Washington State Department of Labor and Industries guidelines for adults and minors

Struggling to track and enforce Washington’s complicated break laws? Buddy Punch can help! It will prompt employees to clock out when it’s time for a break and prevent them from clocking back in if they didn’t stay on break for the required time. Plus, you’ll get detailed reports you can reference when questions come up. Learn more about break tracking in Buddy Punch.

West Virginia

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	20 minutes when working more than 6 hours	Minors are entitled to the same breaks as adults

Employees in West Virginia must be provided with a 20-minute lunch break when working six hours or more. The state does not provide specific guidelines for the times when those breaks must be provided and, instead, leaves that to the employer’s discretion. The required break may be able to be waived if the employee is permitted to eat lunch while working.

Source: West Virginia Legislature

Wisconsin

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Employees under 18 must get a 30-minute lunch break when working more than 6 hours

Wisconsin does not mandate that employers provide employees aged 18 or older with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Wisconsin does have meal break laws for minor employees under the age of 18. Employees younger than 18 may not work more than six consecutive hours without receiving a 30-minute, duty-free meal break.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Wyoming

Rest break requirements	Adult lunch break requirements	Minor lunch break requirements
Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law	Not mandated by state law

Wyoming does not mandate that employers provide employees with any meal or rest breaks during their shifts. However, if you do choose to offer breaks, keep in mind that federal law mandates that employees must be paid for short breaks (usually 5-20 minutes long), but they do not have to be paid for meal breaks (usually at least 30 minutes long) as long as they’re completely relieved from their duties during that time.

Source: Wyoming Workforce Services