Learn about rest and meal break laws in each state

Meal break: Alaska requires employers to provide a 30-minute meal break to employees ages 14-17 who work more than five consecutive hours. This break is unpaid unless the employee is required to stay on duty. Alaska employers are not required to provide breaks to employees ages 18 and over.

Rest break: There are no mandatory rest break laws in Alaska, so employers have discretion over offering paid rest breaks.

Meal break: Arizona does not have specific laws regarding meal breaks. Federal law applies, and meal breaks are at the discretion of the employer.

Rest break: Arizona does not mandate rest breaks, leaving it to the employer's discretion.

Meal break: Arkansas does not require either rest or meal breaks for employees over the age of 16, with the exception of lactating mothers. If the employee is relieved of working, then the employer does not have to pay for the break time. However, the employee must be free to leave their workstation. Rest breaks of 20 minutes or less count as time worked.

Rest break: There are no state laws mandating rest breaks for adults in Arkansas. Employers may provide breaks at their discretion.

California regulations on meals, rest, and even recovery breaks are among the most detailed in the country. Below is just a general overview of employer responsibilities, according to California’s Department of Industrial Relations:

Meal break: California mandates a 30-minute unpaid meal break for employees working more than five hours. A second uninterrupted, duty-free unpaid 30-minute break is required if the workday exceeds ten hours.

Rest break: California law requires a ten-minute, uninterrupted, duty-free, paid rest break for every four hours worked, taken in the middle of each work period.

Different breaks apply for motion picture workers, for example, along with swimmers, dancers, skaters, and “other performers engaged in strenuous physical activities.” Outdoor workers must be allowed recovery breaks of at least 5 minutes in the shade any time they need to protect themselves from overheating.

Meal break: Colorado law requires a 30-minute unpaid meal break for employees working more than five hours. This break must be taken after no more than five hours of work.

Rest break: Colorado requires employers in certain industries to allow a ten-minute paid rest break for every four hours worked, which should be taken as close to the middle of the work period as possible.

In Colorado, certain employees are exempt from rest break requirements—administrative, executive, supervisory, professional, and outside sales employees. In addition, property managers, interstate drivers, and driver helpers are exempt.

Meal break: Connecticut law requires a 30-minute unpaid meal break for employees working seven and a half or more consecutive hours, which should be taken after the first two hours and before the last two hours of the shift.

Rest break: There are no mandatory rest break laws in Connecticut, so employers decide whether to offer paid rest breaks.

Meal break: Delaware law requires a 30-minute meal break for employees working seven and a half consecutive hours or more, to be taken after the first two hours and before the last two hours of the shift.

Meal breaks can be unpaid time, but the employer must relieve the employee of all work activities and the time must be uninterrupted. There are several exceptions to Delaware law. Under these exceptions, employers must allow employees to eat at their workstations and to use the restrooms as needed.

Exceptions to Delaware Break Laws

• Compliance with the break requirement would adversely affect public safety.
• Only the employee can perform the duties of the position.
• An employer has 5 or fewer employees at one location during the shift.
• Urgent conditions require employees to be available to handle operations.
• A collective bargaining agreement is in place.
• An employee works for a local school board, directly with children.

Any employee under the age of 18 cannot be allowed to work for more than 5 hours continually without at least a 30-minute break.

Rest break: Delaware does not mandate rest breaks, leaving it up to employers to offer them.

Meal break: Florida does not have specific state laws regarding meal breaks, so federal law applies. Employers are not required to provide meal breaks.

Rest break: Florida does not mandate rest breaks, leaving it to the discretion of employers.

Meal break: Georgia does not have specific state laws requiring meal breaks, so federal law applies. Employers are not obligated to provide meal breaks.

Rest break: There are no mandatory rest break laws in Georgia. Employers may offer breaks at their discretion.

Meal break: Hawaii requires a 30-minute meal break for minors under 18 who work more than five consecutive hours. There are no requirements for adult employees.

Rest break: There are no state laws mandating rest breaks for adults in Hawaii, allowing employers to set their own policies.

Meal break: Idaho does not have state laws mandating meal breaks for adult employees. Federal law applies, and meal breaks are at the employer's discretion.

Rest break: Idaho does not mandate rest breaks. Employers may choose to offer breaks according to their policies.

Meal break: Illinois law requires a 20-minute meal break for employees working seven and a half continuous hours or more. This break must be given within the first five hours of work.

Rest break: Illinois mandates a ten-minute paid rest break for every four hours worked, with some exceptions based on the industry.

Employers must provide employees one day of rest in seven (ODRISA). This is defined as 24 consecutive hours of rest in every calendar week.

Exceptions to the Illinois Day of Rest Rules

There are seven exceptions to the day of rest requirement:

• Employees who work fewer than 20 hours a week.
• Those needed in the case of a breakdown of machinery or equipment.
• Workers needed for an emergency requiring the immediate service of experienced or competent labor to prevent injury to a person, damage to property, or suspension of necessary operations.
• Workers in agriculture, coal mining, or canning/processing perishable agricultural products
• Employees who are watchmen (or women) or security guards.
• Administrators, executives, and other professional workers.
• Employees working as crew members of uninspected towing vessels operating in waters in or along state boundaries.

Employers can also get permits from the Illinois Department of Labor allowing employees to voluntarily work 7 consecutive days.

Before employers can operate on Sunday, they must post, in a conspicuous place, a schedule listing the employees that are working on Sunday. This list must also designate the day of rest for each employee.

Meal break: Indiana law requires meal breaks for minors but does not mandate meal breaks for adult employees. Federal law applies to adults.

Rest break: Indiana does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to the employer's discretion.

Meal break: Iowa mandates a 30-minute meal break for minors working five or more hours but does not have requirements for adult employees. Employers of adults follow federal guidelines.

Rest break: There are no state laws mandating rest breaks for adults in Iowa, so employers set their own policies.

Meal break: Kansas law requires meal breaks for minors but does not mandate meal breaks for adults. Employers may offer breaks at their discretion under federal law.

Rest break: Kansas does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to employer policies.

Meal break: Kentucky requires a reasonable meal period (typically 30 minutes) for employees working more than five hours. This break is unpaid unless the employee is required to work during the break.

Rest break: Kentucky mandates a ten-minute paid rest break for every four hours worked, taken near the middle of the work period.

Meal break: Louisiana does not have specific laws regarding meal breaks for adult employees, so federal law applies. meal breaks are at the employer's discretion.

Rest break: Louisiana does not mandate rest breaks, leaving it to employer policies.

Meal break: Maine requires a 30-minute unpaid meal break for employees working six or more consecutive hours, which must be offered after the first three hours and before the last hour of the shift.

Rest break: Maine does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to the employer's discretion.

Meal break: Maryland law mandates a 30-minute meal break for employees working eight or more consecutive hours. Under the Healthy Retail Employee Act, which applies to retail organizations with at least 50 staff members and operating for 20 or more calendar weeks, in these organizations, employees working shifts that last 6 or more hours must receive a 30-minute meal break. Those working shifts lasting 4 to 6 hours may qualify for 15-minute paid breaks, and 8-hour shifts qualify for two 15-minute paid breaks.

Minors must receive a 30-minute break for every 5 hours worked.

Rest break: Maryland does not have a state-mandated rest break law, so it is up to employers to decide.

Meal break: Massachusetts law requires a 30-minute unpaid meal break for employees working six or more consecutive hours. Employees must be relieved of all duties during this time.

Rest break: There are no state laws mandating rest breaks in Massachusetts, so employers decide whether to offer paid rest breaks.

Meal break: Michigan requires a meal break for minors but does not mandate meal breaks for adult employees. Employers of adults are subject to federal law.

Rest break: Michigan does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to the employer's discretion.

Meal break: Minnesota law requires a reasonable amount of time for a meal break for employees working eight or more consecutive hours. This break is unpaid unless the employee is not relieved of duties.

Rest break: Minnesota mandates a paid rest break for every four consecutive hours worked, typically lasting about ten minutes.

Meal break: Mississippi does not have specific state laws mandating meal breaks. Employers may follow federal guidelines.

Rest break: Mississippi does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, so employers have discretion.

Meal break: Missouri requires a 30-minute meal break for minors working five or more hours but does not mandate meal breaks for adult employees. Federal law applies to adults.

Rest break: Missouri does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to employer policies.

Meal break: Montana does not have specific state laws regarding meal breaks for adults, so federal law applies. Employers may provide breaks at their discretion.

Rest break: Montana does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, allowing employers to set their own policies.

Meal break: Nebraska law requires a 30-minute meal break for minors working five or more hours but does not mandate meal breaks for adult employees. Federal law applies.

Rest break: There are no state laws mandating rest breaks for adult employees in Nebraska.

Meal break: Nevada requires a 30-minute unpaid meal break for employees working more than eight hours a day. This break must be provided no later than five hours into the shift.

Rest break: Nevada mandates a ten-minute paid rest break for every four hours worked, taken near the middle of the work period.

Meal break: New Hampshire law mandates a 30-minute unpaid meal break for employees working more than five consecutive hours. This break must be given after the first two hours and before the last two hours of the shift.

Rest break: New Hampshire does not have a state-mandated rest break law, leaving it to employers to decide.

Meal break: New Jersey requires meal breaks for minors but does not mandate meal breaks for adult employees. Employers of adults follow federal law.

Rest break: New Jersey does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to the employer's discretion.

Meal break: New Mexico does not have specific state laws mandating meal breaks for adult employees. Federal law applies, so employers may provide breaks at their discretion.

Rest break: New Mexico does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it up to employer policies.

Meal break: New York requires a 30-minute meal break for employees working more than six hours. This break must be provided between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for day shifts, and at the midpoint of shifts starting after 1 p.m.

Rest break: New York does not have a state-mandated rest break law for adults, leaving it to employers to decide, but if the break is shorter than 20 minutes, then it must be a paid break and counted as work time.

Meal break: North Carolina requires a meal break for minors but does not mandate meal breaks for adult employees. Federal law applies to adults.

Rest break: North Carolina does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to employer policies.

Meal break: North Dakota requires a 30-minute meal break for employees working more than five consecutive hours, provided there are two or more employees on duty. This break is unpaid unless the employee is not relieved of duties.

Rest break: North Dakota does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, except for retail employees.

North Dakota Day of Rest Requirements for Retail Employees

The employment law that requires a day of rest applies to businesses that sell merchandise at retail locations. The employer cannot require an employee to work 7 consecutive days.

In each 7 consecutive days, the employer must provide employees with at least 24 hours of rest. The time off is in addition to other regular periods of rest allowed during each day worked. Unless it would cause a hardship for the employer, the employer must accommodate the religious beliefs and practices of the employees.

Meal break: Ohio law requires meal breaks for minors (under age 18) a 30-minute break for every 5 consecutive hours worked. This break may be unpaid. Federal law applies to adults.

Rest break: Ohio does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to the employer's discretion.

Meal break: Oklahoma does not have specific state laws mandating meal breaks for adult employees. Federal law applies, so employers may provide breaks at their discretion.

Rest break: Oklahoma does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to employer policies.

Meal break: Oregon law offers several options for breaks:

• 30 minutes, with relief from all duty, for each work period of 6 to 8 hours, between the second and fifth hour for a work period of 7 hours or less, and between the third and sixth hour for a work period over 7 hours.
• OR a paid 20- to 29-minute break, with relief from all duty, if the employer can show that such a paid meal period is industry practice or custom.
• OR an eating period with pay while on duty for each period of 6 to 8 hours if the employer can show that the nature of work prevents relief from all duty.

Rest break: Oregon mandates a ten-minute paid rest break for every four hours worked, taken in the middle of each work period.

Meal break: Pennsylvania requires a 30-minute meal break for minors but does not mandate meal breaks for adult employees. Federal law applies to adults.

Rest break: Pennsylvania does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to employer policies.

Meal break: Rhode Island requires a 20-minute meal break for employees working six or more consecutive hours. This break must be taken after the first three hours and before the last hour of the shift.

Rest break: Rhode Island does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, so it is up to employers to decide.

Meal break: South Carolina does not have specific state laws mandating meal breaks for adult employees. Employers follow federal guidelines.

Rest break: South Carolina does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to employer policies.

Meal break: South Dakota does not have specific state laws mandating meal breaks for adult employees. Federal law applies, so employers may provide breaks at their discretion.

Rest break: South Dakota does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to employer policies.

Meal break: Tennessee law requires a 30-minute unpaid meal break for employees scheduled to work six consecutive hours or more. This break must be provided no later than five hours into the shift.

Rest break: Tennessee does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to employer policies.

Meal break: Texas does not have specific state laws mandating meal breaks for adult employees. Federal law applies, so employers may provide breaks at their discretion.

Rest break: Texas does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to employer policies.

Meal break: Utah requires a 30-minute meal break for minors working five or more consecutive hours but does not mandate meal breaks for adult employees. Federal law applies to adults.

Rest break: Utah does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, so employers have discretion over offering breaks.

Meal break: Vermont law requires a reasonable amount of time for a meal break after six hours of work. The break must be unpaid unless the employee is not relieved of all duties.

Rest break: Vermont mandates a paid rest break for every four consecutive hours worked, typically lasting about ten minutes.

Meal break: Virginia does not have specific state laws mandating meal breaks for adult employees. Employers follow federal guidelines.

Rest break: Virginia does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to employer policies.

Meal break: Washington requires a 30-minute meal break for employees working more than five consecutive hours. This break must be provided no later than five hours into the shift.

Rest break: Washington mandates a ten-minute paid rest break for every four hours worked, taken in the middle of each work period.

Meal break: West Virginia requires a 20-minute meal break for employees working six or more consecutive hours, provided there are three or more employees on duty.

Rest break: West Virginia does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to employer policies.

Meal break: Wisconsin law requires meal breaks for minors (under age 18) lasting at least 30 minutes for any shift that is longer than 6 hours long. Additionally, employers in the state need to give a meal break for each meal period the employee works through. Those meal periods are the times of 6:00 am, 12:00 pm, 6:00 pm, and 12:00 am. 16- and 17-year-old employees must also receive 8 hours of rest between any shifts scheduled after 8 p.m.

Any meal break that is less than 30 consecutive minutes must be counted as time worked and be paid to the employee. Wisconsin requires that employees be paid for all “on-duty” meal breaks. These are the breaks when the employee is not completely free of all work duties.

Wisconsin does not mandate meal breaks for adult employees. Federal law applies to adults.

Rest break: Wisconsin does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees, leaving it to employer policies.

Meal break: Wyoming does not have specific state laws regarding meal breaks, meaning employers follow federal guidelines or their own policies.

Rest break: Wyoming does not mandate rest breaks for adult employees. Employers may choose to offer breaks according to their policies.