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Question: How many breaks at work are required by law?

Answer: State Laws usually mandate when employers must give you "rest periods" or breaks. How much and when depends mostly on the discretion of the employer, but there are some legal protections.

There is no federal law that gives you meal or rest breaks. However, states sometimes have labor laws which mandate time off for meals (like a lunch break) or for a rest break (perhaps a mid-afternoon break). Further, labor unions oftentimes have specific contracts that explicitly mandate time for breaks. Whether or not you can get paid during breaks depends on your employer and on the same state labor laws.
Comments
21 thru 25 of 92 comments
On 04/13/06
Laura from TX said:
this company made me take one day off and two days off my check for going to the doctor. this company has no benfits plus hire people from mexico without papers to work, and speaks spanish and you dont know a word there talking about. Can they take 2 days off my check and can they keep me from not going to the doctors.
On 04/04/06
Angel from VA said:
ur lucky...i get absolutly NO breaks...and i get fussed at for eating at my desk.... im not allowed to smoke on the property or where anyone can see me before or after work... still no breaks...all day!!!
On 03/17/06
PTAH from FL said:
WHAT ARE THE LEGAL PRECEDENTS FOR LUNCH AND BREAK TIMES FOR EMPLOYEES WORKING FROM 9AM TO 5PM MONDAY THRU FRIDAY?
On 03/07/06
Teresa from TX said:
I work for a company and my hour are 7:30 until 4:30 monday thru friday and the have stated that I'm only allowed a 1 Hour Lunch and no breaks is this true can they really do this is legal. Pleas tell me.
On 02/28/06
katie from PA said:
I work 10 hour days and I am constently on my feet. I get one 20 minute break however that break can be interupted at the discrestion of the manager. For those people who complain and are actually getting nice break times stop crying and try my job!
21 thru 25 of 92 comments


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