{"id":187,"date":"2023-04-03T15:27:03","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T15:27:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/learn\/?p=187"},"modified":"2025-03-06T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T00:00:00","slug":"break-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/learn\/de\/business-management\/break-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"Gesetze zu Pausenregelungen nach US-Bundesstaat \u2013 Umfassender Leitfaden (2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Taking regular breaks is essential for employee productivity \u2014 but not many employees have this benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, most US workers take breaks according to employer-set regulations. This is because federal policies regarding meal and rest breaks are vague, allowing employers to set their own break guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although some employers create their own break policies, they generally follow either the state or federal laws regarding work breaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, we will examine how federal and state break laws affect employers and employees in the US and what they are all about.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
The federal law doesn\u2019t require employers to provide meal or rest breaks to their employees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Employers who decide to offer meal breaks that last less than 20 minutes must consider them compensable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Breaks that exceed 20 minutes are not considered compensable under federal law.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Many states have set up their own break regulations when it comes to lunch and meal breaks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
*Note: The information regarding break laws and regulations by state has been checked and updated for 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
What are break laws?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Break laws define when and how employees can use work breaks during their work. Although break regulations are determined on federal and state levels, they largely depend on employers as they decide whether or not to offer breaks and how long they will last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nonetheless, employers are restricted by federal and state law when determining break period regulations in their workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A 30-minute paid meal break if an employee works for more than 5 consecutive hours.If the shift lasts for more than 10 hours, an additional meal break is required.<\/td>
A 10-minute rest period for every 4 hours worked.<\/td>
Adult break regulations apply.<\/td>
Breastfeeding employees are entitled to a break to pump at work for 1 year after the child\u2019s birth (unspecified amount of time).<\/td><\/tr>
A 30-minute paid meal break if an employee works for more than 7.5 consecutive hours.Exceptions:\u2013 If only one employee can perform the necessary duties,\u2013 If the break creates a threat to public safety measures,\u2013 If the operation requires that employees are available to respond to urgent matters, and\u2013 If the employer has less than 5 employees in a particular shift.<\/td>
Federal rules apply.<\/td>
\/<\/td>
Breastfeeding employees are entitled to a break to pump at work for 1 year after the child\u2019s birth (unspecified amount of time).<\/td><\/tr>
Not required by state law; federal rules apply.<\/td>
Federal rules apply.<\/td>
A 30-minute paid meal break for minor employees for every 5 consecutive hours.<\/td>
Lactation breaks are mandatory for businesses with more than 50 employees.If there are fewer than 50 employees, it\u2019s up to the employer to decide whether they will give a lactation break (unspecified amount of time).<\/td><\/tr>
Not required by state law; federal rules apply.<\/td>
Federal rules apply.<\/td>
Youth workers in the entertainment industries can\u2019t work more than 5 and a half hours without a meal break. Moreover, youth workers are entitled to a 15-minute break after every 2 hours of continuous work.<\/td>
Breastfeeding employees are entitled to a break to pump at work for 1 year after the child\u2019s birth (unspecified amount of time).<\/td><\/tr>
Breaks aren\u2019t required by state, except for employees in mechanical establishments, workshops, and assembling plants. These employees are entitled to a 30-minute break for every 8 consecutive work hours.<\/td>
Federal rules apply.<\/td>
\/<\/td>
Breastfeeding employees are entitled to a break to pump at work for 1 year after the child\u2019s birth (unspecified amount of time).<\/td><\/tr>
Factory workers:\u2013 A 60-minute break between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.\u2013 A 60-minute break midway through shifts that start between 1:00 p.m. and 06:00 a.m.Non-factory workers:\u2013 A 30-minute work lunch break between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. for shifts lasting 6 hours or longer during this period.<\/td>
An additional 20-minute break between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. for shifts that start before 11:00 a.m. and extend after 7:00 p.m.<\/td>
\/<\/td>
Breastfeeding employees are entitled to a break to pump at work for 1 year after the child\u2019s birth (unspecified amount of time).<\/td><\/tr>
Not required by state law; federal rules apply.<\/td>
Federal rules apply.<\/td>
\/<\/td>
Breastfeeding employees are entitled to a break to pump at work for 1 year after the child\u2019s birth (unspecified amount of time).<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Frequently asked questions about break laws in the US<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To make this article as comprehensive as possible, we have included an FAQ section where we will answer the most common questions about break laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are breaks legally required in the US?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Employers in federally governed US states aren\u2019t legally required <\/strong>to offer breaks to their employees. If they choose to do so, they must adhere to federal policies and pay for the breaks if they last less than 20 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the state in question has its own break laws that offer better benefits to the employees, employers are legally required to adhere to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How long is a work lunch break?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Although there are no federal restrictions on the duration of lunch breaks, according to FLSA regulations, all meal breaks should last around 30 minutes, depending on the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, most state laws have capped meal breaks to 30 minutes, which is why most US employers follow the same regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do lunch breaks count as working hours?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If the work lunch break lasts 20 minutes or less, it doesn\u2019t matter if the state you work in follows the federal or state laws \u2014 the break will be paid. Furthermore, the time will be counted toward your overtime<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Break](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Break-laws-by-state-cover.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/learn\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-learn\/src\/images\/clockify\/banners\/landing-3.png\")
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/learn\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-learn\/src\/images\/clockify\/banners\/features.png\")
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Clockify](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Clockify-kiosk.jpg\")
![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/learn\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-learn\/src\/images\/clockify\/banners\/landing-3@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/learn\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-learn\/src\/images\/clockify\/banners\/features@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n