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Meal and Rest Break Laws in Massachusetts

Massachusetts requires a meal break of at least 30 minutes for anyone working more than 6 hours in a calendar day, and has no rest break rule for adults.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Massachusetts at a glance

Meal break required
Yes
Not applicable to iron works, glass works, paper mills, letterpress, print, bleaching or dyeing works; the Attorney General may grant other exemptions.
Meal break rule
30 minutes if working more than 6 hours a day
Rest break required
No
Rest break rule
No state requirement for adults

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Massachusetts

Does Massachusetts law require meal breaks for adult employees?

Yes. Meal break required in Massachusetts: yes. Not applicable to iron works, glass works, paper mills, letterpress, print, bleaching or dyeing works; the Attorney General may grant other exemptions.

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

Meal break rule in Massachusetts: 30 minutes if working more than 6 hours a day.

Does Massachusetts law require rest breaks for adult employees?

No. Rest break required in Massachusetts: no.

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

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

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

The rules above come from Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, 100 and Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, 101. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

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.