Although breaks are not required, employers must pay employees for time they spend working and for shorter breaks during the day. One 15-minute rest break after the required lunch period.Rest breaks are included in the required hours of work per day. In Virginia, state law does not require employers to provide breaks or meal periods to employees, with a few exceptions: 1. The laws in the state of Virginia do not specify how many breaks must be given to adult employees during an 8-hour shift. Workers have a right to at least a 30minute meal break or each 6 hours worked in a calendar day. For employees over 16, breaks are not required, but if provided, breaks of 20 minutes or less must be compensated. In Virginia, state law does not require employers to provide breaks, including lunch or coffee breaks, for workers 16 years of age and older. Most employers provide their employees with a paid or unpaid lunch break, and some provide additional rest break periods. An additional 30minute unpaid meal break when working more than 12 hours in a day.