Meal and lunch breaks in Colorado
Employees working more than 5 consecutive hours get an uninterrupted, duty-free 30-minute meal period, ideally at least an hour after the shift starts and an hour before it ends. It can be unpaid only if the employee is completely relieved of duties. If a break isn't practical, the employee must be allowed to eat while working, and that time must be paid.
Rest breaks in Colorado
Employees get a paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked or major fraction (more than 2 hours). That means 1 break for a shift over 2 and up to 6 hours, 2 breaks for over 6 and up to 10 hours, and so on.
Good to know
- If a rest break is missed, Colorado treats it as 10 minutes of extra work time the employer must pay for.
- Some workers, such as executives and supervisors, are exempt.
What federal law says (applies in every state)
- Federal law doesn't require employers to give meal or rest breaks.
- If your employer does give short breaks (usually 5 to 20 minutes), they must be paid.
- Meal breaks of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid, but only if you're fully relieved of work. If you have to keep working while you eat, that time must be paid.
- Most employers must give reasonable break time and a private space (not a bathroom) for nursing employees to pump breast milk for up to a year after a baby's birth.
Work out your hours
Use the Lunch Break Calculator to see your hours worked after an unpaid lunch, or the Timesheet Calculator to add up your week.
Please note: This page is a plain-English summary for adult (18+) private-sector employees, last checked October 2026. Workers under 18, government employees and union members often have different rules. Laws change, so for an official answer check with your state labor department. This isn't legal advice.