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Meal and Rest Break Laws in Minnesota

Since January 1, 2026, Minnesota requires a meal break of at least 30 minutes for employees working 6 or more consecutive hours, and a rest break of at least 15 minutes (or enough time to use the restroom, if longer) within each 4 consecutive hours.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Minnesota at a glance

Meal break required
Yes
Meal break rule
30 minutes for 6 or more consecutive hours
Effective January 1, 2026 (previously sufficient time to eat after 8 hours). Need not be paid. A collective bargaining agreement may set different meal periods.
Rest break required
Yes
Rest break rule
15 minutes (or restroom time) per 4 hours
Effective January 1, 2026. Rest periods under 20 minutes count as hours worked. Missed breaks are owed at the regular rate plus equal liquidated damages.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Minnesota

Does Minnesota law require meal breaks for adult employees?

Yes. Meal break required in Minnesota: yes.

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

Meal break rule in Minnesota: 30 minutes for 6 or more consecutive hours. Effective January 1, 2026 (previously sufficient time to eat after 8 hours). Need not be paid. A collective bargaining agreement may set different meal periods.

Does Minnesota law require rest breaks for adult employees?

Yes. Rest break required in Minnesota: yes.

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

Rest break rule in Minnesota: 15 minutes (or restroom time) per 4 hours. Effective January 1, 2026. Rest periods under 20 minutes count as hours worked. Missed breaks are owed at the regular rate plus equal liquidated damages.

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

The rules above come from Minn. Stat. 177.253 and Minn. Stat. 177.254. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

A 2025 law (Laws 2025, 1st Special Session, chapter 6, article 5) set the 30-minute meal break and 15-minute rest break and added a liquidated damages remedy, effective January 1, 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.