What does the Meal and rest break index cover?
Compare adult meal period, rest break, waiver, timing, and record requirements across state workforce policies.
United States directory
Meal and Rest Break Laws by State
Compare adult meal period, rest break, waiver, timing, and record requirements across state workforce policies.
Directory reviewed
27 policy guides19 state and district jurisdictions27 city or special rules
Directory
Choose a state, city, or policy
Start with the statewide guide, then check every city or special rule listed for the work location.
27 matching guides in 19 jurisdictions
State and local coverage
CA
California
3 guides
CO
Colorado
2 guides
CT
Connecticut
1 guide
HI
Hawaii
1 guide
IL
Illinois
2 guides
KS
Kansas
1 guide
KY
Kentucky
1 guide
ME
Maine
1 guide
MA
Massachusetts
1 guide
MN
Minnesota
1 guide
MS
Mississippi
1 guide
NV
Nevada
1 guide
NH
New Hampshire
1 guide
NY
New York
3 guides
ND
North Dakota
1 guide
OR
Oregon
2 guides
TN
Tennessee
1 guide
TX
Texas
1 guide
WA
Washington
2 guides
What the rule means
The short answer
Federal law does not generally require meal or rest breaks for adult workers, but states can impose timing, duration, waiver, premium, and record requirements. Rules for minors can be different.
Compare these fields
- Shift length that triggers a break
- Required timing and duration
- Paid or unpaid treatment
- Waiver, premium, and record rules
Operations checklist
Put the rule into practice
- 01Apply the rule to the worker, location, and shift length.
- 02Plan coverage before the break window opens.
- 03Capture the actual break and any approved exception.
- 04Send missed or late breaks for review before payroll closes.
Official sources
Confirm before acting
Rules and effective dates change. Check the responsible agency or counsel before making an employment decision.
Common questions
Using this directory
How do I know which Meal and rest break rules apply?
Start with the place where the employee performs work. Review the statewide rule and any city, county, industry, employer size, or worker classification rule listed for that location.
When was this directory updated?
This directory was reviewed on September 4, 2026. Individual policy rows also show the stored update date for that record.
Related directoriesMinimum wage indexFinal paycheck indexPay transparency indexScheduling law indexTipped wage index
This resource is provided for product education and operational planning only. It is not legal advice and should be reviewed with counsel before relying on it for employment decisions.