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Meal and Rest Break Laws in New Hampshire

New Hampshire requires a 30-minute lunch or eating period after 5 consecutive hours of work, unless the employee can eat while working and the employer allows it, and has no rest break rule for adults.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

New Hampshire at a glance

Meal break required
Yes
Meal break rule
30 minutes after 5 consecutive hours
Not required if it is feasible for the employee to eat while working and the employer permits it.
Rest break required
No
Rest break rule
No state requirement for adults

Sources

Last checked

The rules in New Hampshire

Does New Hampshire law require meal breaks for adult employees?

Yes. Meal break required in New Hampshire: yes.

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

Meal break rule in New Hampshire: 30 minutes after 5 consecutive hours. Not required if it is feasible for the employee to eat while working and the employer permits it.

Does New Hampshire law require rest breaks for adult employees?

No. Rest break required in New Hampshire: no.

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

Rest break rule in New Hampshire: No state requirement for adults.

Where do the New Hampshire meal and rest break laws come from?

The rules above come from N.H. Rev. Stat. 275:30-a. 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.