15-Minute Breaks and More: a State-by-State Guide
Everyone—even the most dedicated workaholic—needs a break from work from time to time. Stepping out of the headspace (and sometimes the physical space) of work can put everything back into perspective and sharpen focus for the rest of the day.
Breaks don’t need to be long to be impactful. Even micro-breaks of just ten minutes have been proven to reduce fatigue and increase workplace enthusiasm.
The US has a patchwork of laws and regulations on whether and when (and how long) an employer must offer breaks at work. That’s why it’s important for both employers and employees to understand the relevant federal and state laws about taking breaks, so everyone is on the same page.
In this article, we’ll go over federal and state laws on short rest breaks, meal breaks, and any other legally mandated breaks you need to know about.
Are 15-Minute Breaks Required by Law?
Federal law doesn’t require employers to provide breaks during the workday. But there are federal laws that define how both short and long breaks must be treated if an employer chooses to give them.
State regulations are a different story. Many states have more regulations in place to require rest and meal breaks for workers. And of course, even if your state doesn’t legally obligate you to provide short breaks for your employees, you can offer them in your company.
Benefits of Work Breaks
Breaks have many proven benefits for employees. They provide a needed rest from tasks, which leads to less fatigue and higher productivity. Breaks also lower mental fatigue, allowing employees at all levels to make better business decisions.
Just 15 minutes spent walking outside or having a snack or a coffee and not thinking about work gives employees a chance to recharge. If employers aren’t providing these breaks, employees may experience burnout and have lower levels of engagement and productivity.
Not allowing employees to take breaks, or not paying them for their short breaks, may even be classed as wage theft in some situations. And of course, if your employees work in a state where they’re legally entitled to breaks, you’ll also face noncompliance penalties depending on the state law.
3 Types of Work Breaks
There are three types of work breaks, and while both are important for employee wellbeing, they have legal distinctions that both employers and employees need to know.
Short Breaks
Short breaks are breaks under 20 minutes, and must be paid and used to calculate workweek hours and overtime according to federal law.
Short breaks ensure employees don’t need to clock out every time they head to the restroom, take a smoke break, grab a cup of coffee, or eat something quickly at their desks in the normal course of business. So if an employee takes a 15-minute break at work, they must be paid for it, no matter the purpose and in every state.
Meal Breaks
Meal breaks are 30 minutes or longer, and according to federal law, they don’t need to be paid as long as employees aren’t working during this time.
But to take an unpaid break, employees must be fully off the clock. Some states have additional requirements (such as taking lunch breaks off-site) to ensure they’re truly getting a break from work.
Lactation Breaks for Nursing Mothers
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) requires that qualifying employees be provided with a reasonable break time (usually 25 minutes) and a private space (other than a bathroom) close to their work station to pump breast milk while at work. Employees must be paid for this break time. This law protects nursing employees for up to one year after their child’s birth.
15-Minute Break Laws by State
Each state manages its own regulations about required breaks, and many have separate regulations for employees under age 18 to protect minors. Many states leave breaks entirely to employer discretion, except in the case of working minors.
Here’s a complete rundown of break laws by state.
Alabama
Meal break: Not required
Short break: Not required
Minor break: Minors aged 14–15 working more than 5 continuous hours must receive a documented 30-minute break. They cannot work before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on school days and are limited to 18 hours per week during school sessions. On non-school days, they may work up to 8 hours.
Alabama defaults to federal break laws for employees 16 and older.
Alaska
Meal break: Not required.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Minors aged 14–17 working 5+ consecutive hours must get a 30-minute break. If any break is under 20 minutes, it must be paid. Meal periods over 20 minutes are unpaid if no work is done.
Alaska defaults to the federal break laws for all adult employees.
Arizona
Meal break: 30-minute unpaid break for 5+ hours; additional 30-minute unpaid break for 12+ hours.
Short break: Paid 10-minute break for every 4 hours worked.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
Arkansas
Meal break: Employers are not required to provide meal breaks. However, if provided, they are unpaid if they last 30+ minutes and no work is performed.
Short break: Employers are not required to provide breaks, but if provided and under 20 minutes, they must be paid.
Minor break: Required only for minors under 16 in the entertainment industry.
California
Meal break: 30-minute unpaid break required for 5+ hours; additional 30-minute unpaid break for 12+ hours.
Short break: Paid 10-minute rest period for every 4 hours worked. Outdoor workers can take cool-down breaks in the shade to prevent heat illness.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
Colorado
Meal break: Employees working over 5 consecutive hours must receive a 30-minute, uninterrupted, duty-free meal break (unless exempt), typically 1 hour after starting and before ending a shift. If uninterrupted breaks are impractical, employees must be allowed to eat while working and be paid for that time.
Short break: Employees must receive a paid 10-minute rest period for every 4 hours worked, with breaks ideally placed mid-shift. Rest periods are work-free but do not require leaving the work site.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
Connecticut
Meal break: 30-minute meal period required for employees working 7½ consecutive hours or more, taken 2 hours after starting and before ending a shift.
Short break: Connecticut defers to federal break laws for all employees.
Minor break: Same meal break requirements as adults for minors working 7½ consecutive hours or more.
Delaware
Meal break: Employees working 7.5+ hours a day must get a 30-minute meal break, taken after the first 2 hours and before the last 2 hours of work. Exceptions include teachers working with children, union agreements, and certain job conditions.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
Delaware defaults to the federal break laws for all non-minor employees.
Florida
Meal break: Not required
Short break: Not required
Minor break: Employees under 18 who work four or more hours get a 30-minute break.
Florida defaults to the federal break laws for all adult employees.
Georgia
Meal break: Employers aren’t required to provide or pay for meal breaks of 30 minutes or more, as long as employees are free to use the time and not expected to work.
Short break: Employers may (not required) offer short breaks (5 to 20 minutes), which must be paid according to the FLSA.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
Georgia defaults to the federal break laws for all employees.
Hawaii
Meal break: Not required
Short break: Not required
Minor break: Employees 14 or 15 years old get a 30-minute break after working five consecutive hours.
Hawaii defaults to the federal break laws for all employees over 16.
Idaho
Meal break: Not required
Short break: Not required
Minor break: Not required
Idaho defaults to the federal break laws for all employees.
Illinois
Meal break: Employees working 7.5 or more consecutive hours are entitled to a minimum 20-minute unpaid meal break, which must be taken no later than five hours into the shift. If the shift lasts 12 hours or longer, an additional 20-minute meal break must be provided.
Short break: None
Minor break: Employees under 16 working more than five hours must be given a 30-minute break.
Indiana
Meal break: Not required.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Employees under 18 who work at least six consecutive hours get 1–2 breaks totaling at least 30 minutes.
Indiana defaults to the federal break laws for all adult employees.
Iowa
Meal break: None
Short break: Employers must allow workers to take restroom breaks as needed.
Minor break: Employees under 16 who work five or more consecutive hours must get at least a 30-minute break.
Iowa defaults to the federal break laws for all adult employees.
Kansas
Meal break: Not required.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Not required.
Kansas defaults to the federal break laws for all employees.
Kentucky
Meal break: Employees who work five or more consecutive hours are entitled to a reasonable unpaid meal break (usually 20–30 minutes) taken after the third and before the fifth hour of work.
Short break: Employers must provide a 10-minute rest period for every four hours worked. This rest period is in addition to the regular lunch break and must not reduce the employee's pay.
Minor break: Employees under 18 who work five or more consecutive hours must get at least a 30-minute break.
Louisiana
Meal break: Not required.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Employees under 18 who work at least five consecutive hours must receive at least a 30-minute unpaid break.
Louisiana defaults to the federal break laws for all adult employees.
Maine
Meal break: Employers must provide a consecutive 30-minute rest break (paid or unpaid) after six hours worked. Employees can waive this right, preferably in writing. If the break is waived and the employee works through it, that time must count as hours worked.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
Maryland
Meal break: Not required by law unless the employee works in a retail establishment and is covered under the Healthy Retail Employee Act.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Employees under 18 must receive a 30-minute break for every five consecutive hours worked.
Massachusetts
Meal break: Employees working more than six hours are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid meal break, during which they must be free of all duties and allowed to leave the workplace. Employees who choose to work through their meal break at their employer's request must be paid for that time.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
Michigan
Meal break: Not required.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Employees under 18 must be given a 30-minute uninterrupted break if working more than five consecutive hours. This break must be documented, and daily time records should include the start and end times of shifts and breaks.
Michigan defaults to the federal break laws for all adult employees.
Minnesota
Meal break: Employers must provide employees working eight or more consecutive hours with sufficient time to eat a meal. For the break to be unpaid, it must last at least 20 minutes, and the employee must be completely relieved of duties.
Short break: Employers must allow time to use the nearest restroom within each four consecutive hours of work. Breaks shorter than 20 minutes must be paid and counted as hours worked.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
Mississippi
Meal break: Not required.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Not required.
Mississippi defaults to the federal break laws for all employees.
Missouri
Meal break: Not required.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: For minors working in the entertainment industry, a meal break is required after five and a half hours of continuous work. Additionally, a 15-minute paid rest period must be provided after every two hours of continuous work.
Missouri defaults to the federal break laws for all employees.
Montana
Meal break: Not required. If provided, the employee must be completely relieved of duties, and the break must be at least 30 minutes in duration to be considered unpaid
Short break: Not required. If provided, the time spent on the break must be counted as work time.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
Montana defaults to the federal break laws for all employees.
Nebraska
Meal break: Employees in assembling plants, workshops, or mechanical establishments must get a 30-minute meal break during each eight-hour shift.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
Nevada
Meal break: Employees must be given a 30-minute uninterrupted meal period for every 8 hours of continuous work.
Short break: Employees must be given a 10-minute uninterrupted rest period for every 4 hours worked, which must be counted as paid time since rest periods are considered hours worked.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
New Hampshire
Meal break: Employers must provide a 30-minute meal break after five consecutive hours of work unless it is realistic for the employee to eat while working and the employer allows it.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
New Jersey
Meal break: Not required.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Minors must receive a 30-minute meal period after working 5 consecutive hours.
New Jersey defaults to the federal break laws for all adult employees.
New Mexico
Meal break: Not required, but if provided and the break is less than 30 minutes, it must be paid.
Short break: Not required, but if provided, the same payment rule applies for breaks under 30 minutes.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
New Mexico defaults to the federal break laws for all employees.
New York
Meal break:
Factory Workers:
- 60-minute lunch break between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
- And a 60-minute break for shifts over 6 hours starting between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Non-Factory Workers:
- 30-minute break for shifts of 6+ hours that cover 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- And a 45-minute break for shifts over 6 hours starting between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
All Workers:
- An additional 20-minute break between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. for shifts starting before 11:00 a.m. and ending after 7:00 p.m.
Short break: Not required, but if provided, breaks under 20 minutes must be paid.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
North Carolina
Meal break: Not required.
Short break: Not required, but it provided, breaks under 30 minutes must be paid.
Minor break: Workers under 16 must have a 30-minute break after 5 consecutive hours of work. Breaks shorter than 30 minutes don’t count as an interruption to work and must be paid.
North Carolina defaults to the federal break laws for all employees over 16.
North Dakota
Meal break: Employees who work 8 hours or more are entitled to an unpaid meal break of at least 30 minutes, which must occur after working 5 hours and during which they are relieved of duties.
Short break: Not required, but if provided, breaks under 20 minutes are paid, while those longer than 20 minutes may be unpaid depending on the employer's policies.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
Ohio
Meal break: Hourly employees working an 8.5-hour shift are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid meal break.
Short break: Two 15-minute paid rest periods are allowed during each full 8-hour shift. Short breaks can be combined with lunch breaks if agreed upon, but unused short breaks cannot be carried over to a future shift.
Minor break: Minors are entitled to a 30-minute break after working 5 continuous hours. This break must be unpaid and can’t be combined with other breaks.
Oklahoma
Meal break: Not required.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Employees under 16 are entitled to a 30-minute break iif the minor works more than 5 consecutive hours.
Oklahoma defaults to the federal break laws for all employees over 16.
Oregon
Meal break: Employees working six or more hours are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid meal break. No meal break is required for work periods under six hours. For shifts of 14 or more hours, additional meal breaks are required. Employees must be relieved of duties during the meal break, or be paid if duties are performed.
Short break: Employees are entitled to two 10-minute paid rest breaks for each 8-hour work period.
Minor break: Minors must be given a paid 15-minute rest period for every four hours worked. They are also entitled to a 30-minute meal period for every six hours worked, which can be unpaid as long as they’re fully relieved of duties.
Pennsylvania
Meal break: Not required, but if provided, breaks under 20 minutes are paid, while those longer than 20 minutes may be unpaid depending on the employer's policies.
Short break: Not required, but if provided, the same payment rule applies for breaks under 30 minutes.
Minor break: Employers must provide at least a 30-minute break for minors ages 14-17 who work five or more consecutive hours.
Rhode Island
Meal break: A 20-minute meal period must be provided during a 6-hour shift, and a 30-minute meal period must be provided during an 8-hour shift.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
South Carolina
Meal break: None
Short break: None
Minor break: None
South Carolina defaults to the federal break laws for all employees.
South Dakota
Meal break: Not required.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Not required.
South Dakota defaults to the federal break laws for all employees.
Tennessee
Meal break: Employers must provide a 30-minute unpaid meal or rest break to employees working six or more consecutive hours unless the job naturally offers many opportunities to rest or take breaks.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
Texas
Meal break: None
Short break: None
Minor break: None
Texas defaults to the federal break laws for all employees.
Utah
Meal break: Not required.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Employers must provide minors a 30-minute lunch break within the first five hours of their shift. They are also entitled to a 10-minute break for every four hours worked and can’t work more than three consecutive hours without a 10-minute break.
Vermont
Meal break: Employers must provide employees with a “reasonable opportunity” to eat in order to protect their health. Meal periods lasting 30 minutes or more can be unpaid if the employee is completely relieved of duties.
Short break: Reasonable opportunities for toilet facilities and hygiene breaks must be provided. Short breaks lasting less than 20 minutes are considered paid time.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
Virginia
Meal break: Not required.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Minors under 16 years old can’t work more than five continuous hours without being provided a 30-minute lunch break. Breaks of less than 30 minutes must be paid.
Virginia defaults to the federal break laws for all employees over 16.
Washington
Meal break: 30-minute unpaid break required for shifts over 5 hours, starting between the 2nd and 5th hour. Additional 30-minute breaks required for shifts 3+ hours beyond scheduled end or every 5 extra hours worked.
- Paid: If the employee is on duty, on-call, or the meal break is interrupted.
- Unpaid: If the employee is completely free of duties.
Short break: Employees must receive a paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked, with no more than 3 hours worked without a break. Employers must provide reasonable access to bathrooms without rigid schedules or unreasonable restrictions.
Minor break:
For minors under 16:
- 10-minute rest break for every 2 hours worked; no more than 2 hours without a rest break or 30-minute meal period.
- Meal breaks must be separate from rest breaks.
For minors 16–17 years old:
- 10-minute paid rest break for every 4 hours worked; no more than 3 hours without a break.
- 30-minute uninterrupted meal break required if working more than 5 hours.
Washington D.C.
Meal break: None
Short break: None
Minor break: None
Washington D.C. defaults to the federal break laws for all employees.
West Virginia
Meal break: Employees working six or more hours must receive a 20-minute meal break, which can be split into smaller increments. Breaks of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid if the employee is fully relieved of duties.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Entitled to the same breaks as adults.
Wisconsin
Meal break: Not required. However, if a meal break is provided and lasts 30 minutes or more, it’s unpaid unless the employee is on duty. For breaks of less than 30 minutes, they must be paid.
Short break: Not required. However, any authorized break under 30 minutes is considered work time and must be paid.
Minor break: Employers must provide minors under 18 with a 30-minute, duty-free meal period for every six consecutive hours worked.
Wisconsin defaults to the federal break laws for all adult employees.
Wyoming
Meal break: Not required.
Short break: Not required.
Minor break: Not required.
Wyoming defaults to the federal break laws for all employees.