Meal and lunch breaks in Minnesota
Starting January 1, 2026, employees working 6 or more consecutive hours get a 30-minute meal break. It can be unpaid if the employee is fully relieved of duties.
Rest breaks in Minnesota
Starting January 1, 2026, employees get a paid 15-minute rest break (or enough time to use the nearest restroom, if longer) within every 4 consecutive hours worked.
Good to know
- These rules took effect January 1, 2026. Before that, Minnesota required only an unpaid meal break for 8+ hour shifts and a restroom break every 4 hours.
- Employees can choose to skip a break; the state recommends putting that in writing. A union contract can set different terms.
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.