Wage and hour law
What is rest break?
Also called: paid break, 10 minute break
A rest break is a short break, typically 5 to 20 minutes, that federal law treats as paid work time when it is offered.
Short breaks are compensable. You can require people to clock out for lunch, but you cannot dock a 10-minute coffee break, and it counts toward hours worked for overtime.
Federal law does not mandate rest breaks at all. Seven states do require paid rest periods on top of meal periods, generally 10 minutes for each 4 hours worked, so the requirement depends on where the employee is.
Source: 29 CFR 785.18 (rest periods)
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Related terms
Meal break
A meal break is an uninterrupted period, usually 30 minutes or more, that is unpaid when the employee is fully relieved of duty. Federal law does not require one, but many states do.
Overtime
Overtime is the extra pay a non-exempt employee earns for hours past 40 in a workweek, at no less than 1.5 times their regular rate under federal law.
General information for US employers, not legal advice. Wage and hour rules change and vary by state, so confirm specifics with your state labor agency or counsel.