Neither the FLSA nor Texas law requires employers to give breaks during the workday, but if breaks are given, certain rules apply under federal law. The law doesn't give employees the right to take time off to eat lunch (or another meal) or the right to take short breaks during the workday.Workers have a right to at least a 30minute meal break or each 6 hours worked in a calendar day. Texas doesn't require rest breaks. Breaks are left to the discretion of employers. For a break to be noncompensable, a nonexempt employee must be fully relieved of work duties for a period of at least 20 minutes. Texas law follows FLSA which allows for paid breaks of 5 to 20 minutes for the purposes of using the restroom, etc. A 30minute meal break must be provided no later than 5 hours into a shift, though it can be waived for workdays 6 hours or less. Typically, lunch breaks are unpaid and last at least 30 minutes, during which the employee must be completely relieved of all duties. Find information about laws that protect workers.