If your employer allows breaks, and they last less than 20 minutes, you must be paid for the break. In Pennsylvania, only employers of seasonal farmworkers are required to provide breaks.Pennsylvania does not have any state laws regarding rest and meal breaks. As a result, the state adheres to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Fair Workweek law in Philadelphia requires covered employers to provide service, retail, and hospitality workers with a predictable work schedule. Work breaks in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania does not require that most employers give their employees breaks. Under the FLSA, if a meal break is less than 20 minutes, it is generally considered compensable time, even if it is completely unproductive. § 40.3 : Employers must provide a 30minute break for minors who work five or more consecutive hours. For Employees 18 and Older.