Employers in NYS must provide certain employees with at least 24 consecutive hours of rest in any calendar week. Employee meal breaks are required to be at least 30 minutes if an employee works six hours anywhere throughout New York state.Non-Factory Workers are entitled to a 30-minute lunch break between a.m. and. Employees are entitled to a 45-minute break for shifts more than 6 consecutive hours that begin between 1 p.m. New York law does not require employers to give employees a rest break. This pamphlet is intended to provide Employers and Employees with general information about their employment rights and responsibilities in New York State. Workers have a right to at least a 30minute meal break or each 6 hours worked in a calendar day. Section 162 of the New York State Labor Law requires New York employers to provide lunch breaks to most employees who work more than six hours per day. Rest breaks are not required, but all breaks 20 minutes or less must be compensated as hours worked. Industry-Specific Scheduling Requirements.