Believe it or not, employers in many states have no legal obligation to give their employees any breaks during the work day. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require employers to provide any breaks, and many states follow the same rule. Other states require employers to provide rest breaks, meal breaks, or both.
A small number of states require employers to provide paid rest breaks during the work day.
Illinois employees who work at least seven and a half consecutive hours are entitled to a 20-minute meal break, unpaid. The break must take place no later than five hours after the employee's shift starts.
Hotel room attendants are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid meal break if they work at least seven consecutive hours.
If you work as a hotel room attendant in Illinois, your employer must give you at least two 15-minute paid rest breaks for every day in which you work at least seven hours.
Other employees are not entitled to rest breaks in Illinois. If your employer chooses to provide rest breaks, you must be paid for breaks that last 20 minutes or less.