Can I Work Six Hours Without a Lunch Break in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, employers must provide employees time to use the restroom and time to eat a meal. However, Minnesota law stipulates that employers must provide employees who work at least eight consecutive hours with sufficient time for a meal break.

Minnesota regulations suggest that a break of thirty minutes typically qualifies as a true meal break. The law does not specify the exact length of a meal break, but if an employer offers less than twenty minutes for a meal, they must pay the employee for that time. For breaks lasting twenty minutes or more, the employer does not have to pay for the break time, during which the employee must be completely relieved of their duties.

Additionally, Minnesota employers must allow employees adequate time to use the restroom every four consecutive hours, and this time must be paid.

While federal law doesn’t mandate meal or rest breaks, Minnesota has its own regulations. Unlike some states, Minnesota requires employers to provide breaks. Although there are no specific break laws for minors, federal laws mandate that nursing mothers receive reasonable break times to express breast milk in a private, non-restroom space with an electrical outlet. Employers with fewer than fifty employees may be exempt if it creates undue hardship.

Minnesota encourages employees to keep track of their working hours, including start and end times, as well as any breaks taken, and employers can use time-tracking software to efficiently monitor employee breaks and ensure compliance with the law.

Did you know that time clock apps like ClockShark, FieldEdge, and Procore help maintain compliance with local labor laws? Check out our guides on state labor laws including Nevada, California, and more.

References