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 New Hampshire, employers must allow employees to take a 30-minute meal break, unpaid, once they have worked five consecutive hours. If it is feasible for the employee to eat while working, and the employer allows it, the employer may provide an on-duty meal break. However, the employee must be paid for this time.
New Hampshire 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.
