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    HS: Meal and Break Planning Overview

    Compliance Playbook Content: View Playbook • See disclaimer below

     

    Overview

    Meal & Break Planning (MBP) is a HotSchedules feature that helps organizations plan and schedule employee meals and breaks. Above Store Console (ASC) users can create and assign meal and break rule sets to stores within their hierarchy. Once configured, eligible shifts display meal and break indicators, allowing managers to plan and assign applicable meal and break times while building the schedule.

    This article provides an overview of meal and rest break requirements by state to help customers identify considerations when configuring Meal & Break Planning for their organization.

    Note: This functionality can be configured regardless of whether a specific jurisdiction is listed in the compliance coverage section below.

    For setup and configuration guidance, refer to these related Meal & Break Planning articles:

    Compliance Coverage by State

    Meal and rest break requirements vary by jurisdiction and may depend on employee role, age, industry, shift length, work location, employer size, or other factors. Customers are responsible for confirming which requirements apply to their business and configuring rule sets appropriately.

    Under federal law, the FLSA generally does not require employers to provide meal periods or rest breaks. Federal rules primarily address how breaks are treated for pay purposes when they are provided. For example, short rest breaks are generally treated as paid work time, while bona fide meal periods may be unpaid if the employee is relieved of duty. State and local laws may establish additional meal and rest break requirements.

    The table below identifies states that may have meal period or rest break requirements beyond federal law.

    Table Key:

    • Yes = Statewide adult employee rule may apply

    • Limited = Rule applies only in limited circumstances, industries, employer sizes, employee groups, or conditions

    • No = No statewide adult rule listed for that category

    *Minor-specific only: States marked with an asterisk are listed as having separate meal-period provisions for minors but are not listed as having a general statewide adult private-sector meal period rule.

    Note: Please review your state's applicable meal and rest requirements for compliance. 

    State Meal Period Rules Rest Break Rules Important Notes
    Alabama Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    Alaska Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    California Yes Yes Adult meal and rest break rules may apply.
    Colorado Yes Yes Adult meal and rest break rules may apply in covered industries.
    Connecticut Yes No Adult meal period rule may apply; no statewide adult paid rest-period rule listed.
    Delaware Yes No Adult meal period rule may apply; no statewide adult paid rest-period rule listed.
    Florida Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    Hawaii Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    Illinois Yes Limited Adult meal period rule applies; paid rest break rule is limited, including certain hotel room attendants.
    Indiana Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    Iowa Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    Kentucky Yes Yes Adult meal and rest break rules may apply.
    Louisiana Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    Maine Yes No Adult meal period rule may apply after 6 consecutive hours, subject to exceptions.
    Maryland Yes No Break rules may apply to certain retail establishments/employees.
    Massachusetts Yes No Adult meal period rule may apply; no statewide adult paid rest-period rule listed.
    Michigan Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    Minnesota Yes Yes Adult meal and restroom/rest period rules may apply.
    Nebraska Limited No Adult meal period rule applies to certain assembly plants, workshops, or mechanical establishments.
    Nevada Yes Yes Adult meal and rest break rules may apply, subject to exemptions.
    New Hampshire Yes No Adult meal period rule may apply after 5 consecutive hours unless the employee can eat while working.
    New Jersey Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    New York Yes No Adult meal period rules may apply based on industry, shift timing, and hours worked.
    North Carolina Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    North Dakota Yes No Adult meal period rule may apply when more than one employee is on duty.
    Ohio Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    Oklahoma Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    Oregon Yes Yes Adult meal and rest break rules may apply.
    Pennsylvania Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    Rhode Island Yes No Adult meal period rule may apply, subject to employer-size and healthcare-related exceptions.
    Tennessee Yes No Adult meal period rule may apply for employees scheduled to work 6 consecutive hours or more, subject to exceptions.
    Utah Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    Vermont Limited Limited Adult employees must be given reasonable opportunities to eat and use toilet facilities.
    Virginia Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    Washington Yes Yes Adult meal and rest break rules may apply.
    West Virginia Yes No Adult meal period rule may apply when employees work 6 hours or more and are not otherwise afforded breaks or permitted to eat while working.
    Wisconsin Yes* No Minor-specific meal period rule only.
    Last Updated: September 14, 2026

     

    Important Disclaimer: Customers are responsible for their own compliance obligations and should consult qualified legal or compliance professionals for guidance specific to their organization. This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Fourth provides this information to facilitate internal discussion and ongoing compliance awareness. It has not been prepared or reviewed by legal counsel, and Fourth does not provide legal or regulatory advisory services.

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