{"id":357863,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:32","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/wages-and-benefits\/meal-break-and-rest-break-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-03-24T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T05:00:00","slug":"meal-break-and-rest-break-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/wages-and-benefits\/meal-break-and-rest-break-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Meal Break and Rest Break Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Meal Break and Rest Break Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lisa Burden, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require meal or rest breaks for workers. But when provided, short rest breaks are considered paid work time. While federal law doesn’t mandate these breaks, some states have their own laws requiring meal and rest breaks. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

Because the FLSA doesn’t require employers to provide meal or rest breaks for employees, it\u2019s crucial for employees to understand their state’s specific regulations.<\/p>\n

Interpreting your state\u2019s laws regarding meal and rest breaks can be overwhelming. Contact a local employment law attorney<\/a> for help understanding your employee rights in your area.<\/p>\n

This article discusses state laws providing meal and rest breaks. For more information, visit FindLaw’s Wage and Hour Laws<\/a> section.<\/p>\n

What Does Federal Law Say About Meal and Rest Breaks?<\/h2>\n

The FLSA is an important federal employment law<\/a> that regulates most U.S. workplaces.<\/p>\n

When employers provide short rest breaks, federal law regards them as paid work time. They must be part of the total hours an employee works during a week. You must also consider any time spent in one of these short breaks when calculating whether overtime pay<\/a> is owed.<\/p>\n

Employers covered by the FLSA must also comply with laws concerning break time for nursing mothers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While federal law doesn’t impose rest break requirements for most workers, some states have laws mandating meal breaks and rest breaks. If you work in a state that doesn’t require meal or rest breaks, your breaks are a matter of agreement between you and your employer.<\/p>\n

State Laws: Required Meal Breaks<\/h2>\n

There are 21 states with laws regarding required meal break time<\/a>:<\/p>\n