The rule.
Law Level
Moderate
Meal Break Requirement
20 min for shifts over 7.5 hrs (meal or rest)
Rest Break Requirement
None required separately
Penalty for Violation
Civil penalty
Key Notes for Employers
820 ILCS 140/3: 20-minute meal/rest period after 7.5 hrs. Also: nursing mothers must receive reasonable breaks.
Last verified: June 2026.
What's in the Meal & Rest Break Requirements workbook
What's in the workbook
Meal & Rest Breaks — every state covered. Visible items show the chapters; locked items reveal the structural depth.
- ✓State Reference
- ✓Compliance Checklist
- ✓Monthly Updates
- 🔒Policy Review
- 🔒Compensability & Payroll
- 🔒Recordkeeping
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