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.An employer shall provide an employee all of the following: 1. Arizona defines a workweek as any consecutive 7 days. The complete guide to labor laws in Arizona. 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.