Non-Factory Workers are entitled to a 30-minute lunch break between a.m. and. If an employee's shift starts before 11 a.m.And ends after 7 p.m. Employers do not have to provide other "breaks", such as for "rest periods" or "coffee breaks. Employee meal breaks are required to be at least 30 minutes if an employee works six hours anywhere throughout New York state. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that generally does not require an employer to provide meal periods or rest periods for their employees. Rest breaks usually last about five to 20 minutes. Again, include rest breaks in the total time an employee works if you offer them to employees. A 30-min paid meal break if an employee works for more than 5 consecutive hours. The federal wage and hour law, called the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), doesn't require employers to provide meal or rest breaks.