Workers have a right to at least a 30minute meal break or each 6 hours worked in a calendar day. If your employer allows breaks, and they last less than 20 minutes, you must be paid for the break.While short breaks (5 to 20 minutes) must be paid if offered, longer meal breaks can be unpaid if no work is performed during that time. Does your state require employers give workers lunch breaks? Find out the regulations on lunch break laws and rest periods here. In Pennsylvania, only employers of seasonal farmworkers are required to provide breaks. Short breaks (typically 5 to 20 minutes) must be compensated and count towards total hours worked. Pennsylvania Leave and Paid Time Off (PTO). If there is an unpaid break it has to be at least 30 minutes long and employees are free to leave for the duration of this time. An additional 30minute unpaid meal break when working more than 12 hours in a day.