Must you give employees meal and rest breaks?

Federal law doesn’t require employers to give meal and rest breaks but many do. Short breaks (5-20 minutes) must be paid and count as hours worked (taken into account for overtime purposes); meal breaks (30 minutes or more) can be unpaid as long as employees are free from all work duties. Many states have their own requirements. For example, as of January 1, 2026, employers in Minnesota must give employees subject to minimum wage and overtime rules at least one 15-minute paid break every 4 consecutive hours worked, and one 30-minute meal break—paid or unpaid—for every 6 hours of consecutive work. #IdeaoftheDay