An employer may not force an employee to work through a meal break. 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. Illinois law doesn't require employers to give their employees 30-minute meal breaks. The new law going into effect (that I assume this is about) is one mandating all employers to provide PTO to their employees. Workers have a right to at least a 30minute meal break or each 6 hours worked in a calendar day. Illinois labor laws require employers to provide a 20minute meal break for employees who work at least 7.5 consecutive hours. Federal law doesn't require meal breaks, but Illinois law does. In Illinois, employees are entitled to a 10minute paid rest break for every 4 hours of work they complete. If an employee's tips combined with the wages from the employer do not equal the minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference.