Meal breaks are unpaid unless the employee's employment contract requires payment. The Employment Standards Act (ESA) mandates that most employees must be granted a 30minute break, or eating period, for every five consecutive hours of work.The Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA) requires that all employees be granted one 30minute break for every 5 consecutive hours of work. As an employee, you are entitled to an unpaid break of at least 30 minutes during every period of 5 consecutive hours of work. A manual for legal experts to help interpret the Employment Standards Act, 2000, the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act and their regulations. An employee must not work for more than five hours in a row without getting a 30-minute eating period (meal break) free from work. For a 12hour shift in Ontario: Employers must provide two 30minute breaks during a 12hour shift, with one break every five hours of work. Most employees (there are some exemptions) can take one 30minute break for a meal, after their first 5 hours of work. Listed below are brief descriptions of common types of child care programs in New York State. Programs located on Federal or Tribal property and adhering to applicable laws and regulations.