Human Resource Blog

Mississippi Break Law

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In Mississippi, are employers required to give breaks under any state or federal law?  Does it matter how old the employee is, or if it’s in the fast food industry?

The laws in Mississippi do not require meal, or other types of breaks, for any workers who are over the age of 18.  Mississippi, however, is not the only state that has such a policy.

Alabama, Arizona, Alaska, Texas, Florida, Utah, North Carolina, and Georgia are just a few of the other states that do not require employers to provide any breaks to their employees.  For example, an employer could require an employee to work for a full day without taking a single break.  This law applies even if an employee’s shift lasts for 16 hours or more. 

Some other states regulate breaks only for particular workers.  Illinois is an excellent example.  In this state, the statute is worded so that it only applies to hotel room attendants in the city of Chicago.  Employees in that realm are entitled to two 15-minute paid breaks, as well as one 30-minute unpaid break during each shift that lasts for seven hours or longer.  All other employees over the age of 18 throughout other parts of the state are not entitled to any breaks.

In Maine, California, and Colorado, the law requires that adult employees who work for six hours or more be given an unpaid meal break of 30 minutes.  Employees in Connecticut and Delaware who work for 7.5 hours or more are entitled to receive one unpaid 30-minute meal break.

Some rules and regulations regarding breaks vary depending upon a worker’s age.  There are a number of states that require meal breaks for employees under the age of 18.  Almost all states require that meal breaks be given to employees who are under the age of 16.  These particular regulations fall under each state’s child labor laws.

There are some employers who give breaks not because they have to, but because research has shown that employees tend to be more productive when they are provided with regular breaks.  It is common to see some employers provide workers with two 15-minute rest breaks, as well as one 30-minute meal break during an eight-hour shift. JH