Employers must pay employees during a break period. Although breaks are not required, employers must pay employees for time they spend working and for shorter breaks during the day.A paid ten-minute rest break for every four hours worked. 3. However, the US Department of Labor has one guideline — employers must pay for all breaks under 20 minutes, while any breaks exceeding 30 minutes are unpaid. Arizona actually does not have any specific laws that require employers to provide either breaks during the work day or meal periods. There is no requirement in Arizona law that an employee be given break time or lunch periods. Meal breaks of more than 30 minutes (if the employee is not working) don't have to be paid. Leaves of absence in Arizona. State labor laws do not regulate employee breaks, lunch periods or the number of hours that may be worked, leaving these to the employer's. Arizona doesn't require any breaks.