Workers have a right to at least a 30minute meal break or each 6 hours worked in a calendar day. There is no law in Virginia requiring employers to provide a dedicated meal break.Does your state require employers give workers lunch breaks? Find out the regulations on lunch break laws and rest periods here. Employers are not required to provide breaks or meal periods. They do not have to pay overtime rates. Although breaks are not required, employers must pay employees for time they spend working and for shorter breaks during the day. This state-specific guide covers labor and employment case law, statutes, rules, and regulations that HR professionals and clients often encounter Secondly, while Virginia law does not mandate short rest breaks (5 to 20 minutes), federal standards encourage employers to offer these breaks. When employers provide employees rest breaks that last 20 minutes or less, federal law requires that those breaks be paid.