An additional 20-minute meal break must be permitted if working a 12-hour shift or longer. If an employee works through a meal break, they must be paid.Illinois employers must provide a meal break to employees who work at least seven and a half continuous hours. This break must be at least 20 minutes long. In Illinois, employees are entitled to a 10minute paid rest break for every 4 hours of work they complete. For every 7.5 hours worked, Illinois state law allows one meal break to be taken no later than 5 hours from the start of the shift. Federal law doesn't require meal breaks, but Illinois law does. You are entitled to at minimum 20 minute meal break if your shift is 7.5 hours. The law requires employers to provide one hour of paid time off, which can be used for any reason, including vacation and sick leave, for every 40 hours worked.