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Tennessee: meal break laws

Whether your state requires employers to give adult workers a meal break, how long, and when.

Checked on official source
Meal break rule30 minutes for 6+ consecutive scheduled hours
Who it coversMost employers

Federal law does not require meal breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that an employer gives must be paid. Separate rules often apply to workers under 18.

General information only, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Not affiliated with any government agency. Exceptions can apply. Confirm with the state agency, the court or a licensed professional in Tennessee.

How Tennessee compares

21 of 51 states and DC share this answer (Yes): California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia.

Alaska: No general requirementAKMaine: 30 minutes after 6 consecutive hoursMEVermont: Reasonable opportunity to eat and use the restroom (no set length)VTNew Hampshire: 30 minutes after 5 consecutive hoursNHWashington: 30 minutes when working more than 5 hours, between the 2nd and 5th hourWAIdaho: No general requirementIDMontana: No general requirementMTNorth Dakota: 30 minutes for shifts over 5 hoursNDMinnesota: Enough unpaid time to eat a meal, for 8+ consecutive hoursMNIllinois: 20 minutes no later than 5 hours into a shift of 7.5+ hoursILWisconsin: No general requirementWIMichigan: No general requirementMINew York: 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on industry and shift timingNYRhode Island: 20 minutes in a 6-hour shift; 30 minutes in an 8-hour shiftRIMassachusetts: 30 minutes for work over 6 hoursMAOregon: 30 minutes for 6-8 hour work periodsORNevada: 30 minutes for 8 continuous hoursNVWyoming: No general requirementWYSouth Dakota: No general requirementSDIowa: No general requirementIAIndiana: No general requirementINOhio: No general requirementOHPennsylvania: No general requirementPANew Jersey: No general requirementNJConnecticut: 30 minutes after the first 2 hours and before the last 2, for shifts of 7.5+ hoursCTCalifornia: 30 minutes after more than 5 hours; a second 30 minutes after 10 hoursCAUtah: No general requirementUTColorado: 30 minutes when a shift exceeds 5 consecutive hoursCONebraska: 30 minutes off premises in each 8-hour shiftNEMissouri: No general requirementMOKentucky: A reasonable meal period (normally 30 minutes) between the 3rd and 5th hourKYWest Virginia: 20 minutes for 6+ hoursWVVirginia: No general requirementVAMaryland: 15 minutes for 4-6 hours; 30 minutes for more than 6MDDelaware: 30 minutes after the first 2 hours and before the last 2, for shifts of 7.5+ hoursDEArizona: No general requirementAZNew Mexico: No general requirementNMKansas: No general requirementKSArkansas: No general requirementARTennessee: 30 minutes for 6+ consecutive scheduled hoursTNNorth Carolina: No general requirementNCSouth Carolina: No general requirementSCDistrict of Columbia: No general requirementDCOklahoma: No general requirementOKLouisiana: No general requirementLAMississippi: No general requirementMSAlabama: No general requirementALGeorgia: No general requirementGAHawaii: No general requirementHITexas: No general requirementTXFlorida: No general requirementFL
  • Yes (21)
  • No (30)

Also for Tennessee: Workers' comp deadlines in Tennessee · Workers' comp benefits in Tennessee · Paid leave programs in Tennessee · Final paycheck rules in Tennessee · Minimum wage in Tennessee · Unemployment benefits in Tennessee · Tipped minimum wage in Tennessee · Payday frequency in Tennessee · Rest break laws in Tennessee · All Tennessee rules on one page

How we checked this

Rules come from the U.S. Department of Labor's table of state meal period requirements for adult private-sector workers. Last checked: November 12, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the state agency or a licensed professional before acting.

Cross-checked sources agree   Checked on official source confirmed on a government, court or legislature site   Single detailed source one detailed table built from statutes or official data   Under review sources disagree; read the note and the law.