Trust me, this is a very common question and many like you are surprised that there is no federal law requiring that employees be given breaks in the United States. An employer has the right to make you work 12 hours without a break or even 16 hours.
Break laws by state StateRest breakMinor break Arkansas / Required for minors under 16 working in entertainment — the duration of the break is up to the employer. California A 10-min rest period for every 4 hours worked. Adult break regulations apply. Colorado A 10-min rest period for every 4 hours worked. / Connecticut / /47 more rows
Federal Break Laws: What Breaks are Required? The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the primary federal law governing labor standards, does not require employers to provide meal or rest breaks. Short breaks, typically lasting about 5 to 20 minutes, are common in workplaces.
No, under California law rest period time is based on the total hours worked daily, and only one ten-minute rest period need be authorized for every four hours of work or major fraction thereof.
Employers who make it difficult or impossible for their workers to take these legally-protected breaks owe their workers compensation for forcing them to miss their breaks. Should they fail to provide this compensation, these employers could face a lawsuit based on California law.
Rest breaks must also be spaced out so that they fall in the middle of each work period. This means if employees work 8 hour shifts, they should have one rest break before their meal break and the second rest break afterwards.
Employers must get an employee's written agreement in advance for taking on duty meals. Workers must also be able to withdraw their consent to this arrangement at any time. In California, ing to labor laws, employees can waive their lunch break if their work shift is six hours or less.
Requirements for Rest Breaks in California Hours WorkedNumber of 10-Minute Rest Breaks to 6 hours 1 to 10 hours 2 10.01 to 14 hours 3 – 18 hours 41 more row
If you work for more than 6 hours a day, you're entitled to an uninterrupted rest break of at least 20 minutes - for example a tea or lunch break. You must be allowed to take it during the day rather than at the beginning or end.