Both federal and state laws govern wages and hours. Federal law doesn't require meal breaks, but Illinois law does. If you work at least 7.5 hours a day, it entitles you to a 20 minute meal period.
In Illinois, a shift lasting 7.5 hours or more entitles employees to a meal break of 20 minutes. The meal break must be taken not more than five hours after the employee has initiated work. If an employee works for more than 10 hours, they are entitled to two meal breaks, with a minimum of 20 minutes each.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has neither researched nor issued standards requiring that workers be permitted lunch and rest breaks in the course of their workday.
For an 8-hour work shift, employees are entitled to a minimum 20-minute uninterrupted break if they work more than six hours. The break should not be taken at the beginning or end of the shift, and employees must be allowed to take it away from their workstation.
Federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks.