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.
In Maryland, only retail employees are entitled to meal breaks. This rule applies only to employers with at least 50 retail employees -- employees who actually sell things in a store -- within the state. These employers must give employees who work a shift of at least four hours a 15-minute break. Employees who work at least six hours are entitled to a 30-minute break. And, employees who work at least eight hours are entitled to an additional 15-minute break for every four extra hours they work.
Maryland law does not require employers to provide rest breaks. If your employer chooses to let employees take rest breaks, it must pay you for breaks that last for 20 minutes or less.