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Meal and Rest Break Laws in Indiana

Indiana has no state law requiring meal or rest breaks for adult employees; breaks are required only for workers under 18.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Indiana at a glance

Meal break required
No
Meal break rule
No state requirement for adults
Employers must give breaks to employees under 18.
Rest break required
No
Rest break rule
No state requirement for adults

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Indiana

Does Indiana law require meal breaks for adult employees?

No. Meal break required in Indiana: no.

How long is the required meal break in Indiana, and when is it due?

Meal break rule in Indiana: No state requirement for adults. Employers must give breaks to employees under 18.

Does Indiana law require rest breaks for adult employees?

No. Rest break required in Indiana: no.

How long are required rest breaks in Indiana, and when are they due?

Rest break rule in Indiana: No state requirement for adults.

Where do the Indiana meal and rest break laws come from?

The rules above come from Indiana Dept. of Labor FAQ: state laws on lunch or break issues and Indiana Dept. of Labor FAQ: breaks during a work shift. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The Indiana Department of Labor describes breaks for adult workers as a privilege given by the employer.

What this means in practice

Put the break schedule in writing, for example in an employee handbook, and apply it consistently. State rules often depend on shift length, so the policy should say when a break is due and how long it lasts.

Under federal rules, short rest breaks are generally counted as paid work time, while a bona fide meal period during which the employee is fully relieved of duty usually does not have to be paid. If an employee is asked to stay at the workstation or answer calls, the meal period may count as work time.

Check whether a state rule covers your industry and workforce. Break laws can treat minors, health care workers, nursing mothers or employees under a collective bargaining agreement differently, and city ordinances may add requirements.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.