Workers have a right to at least a 30minute meal break or each 6 hours worked in a calendar day. A 30minute meal break must be provided no later than 5 hours into a shift, though it can be waived for workdays 6 hours or less.In South Carolina, no law gives employees the right to time off to eat lunch (or another meal) or the right to take short breaks during the work day. Employer and employees may agree to break down the 10 minutes of rest into smaller breaks, as long as they add up to 10 minutes during the 4-hour work period. Federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks. State law requires paid breaks. The employee works through a break time (e.g. The regulations do provide that if a meal break is provided, it must be free of work duties. See 29 C.F.R. Sec. 785.19. Short rest breaks, which usually 20 minutes or less, must be paid as work time.