Indiana Break Laws (2026)
Last updated: 2026-10-07 · Checked against the statute text and state agency guidance · No break law
| Adult meal break | Not required |
|---|---|
| Adult rest break | Not required (short breaks you give must be paid) |
| Minors | No separate rule — adult rules (if any) apply |
| Lactation | Private space only (25+ employees) |
| Enforcing agency | Indiana Department of Labor |
Heads up: The U.S. DOL's minors table still lists Indiana, but the Indiana Department of Labor says employers are no longer required to give minors a break or lunch.
Indiana break scheduler
Pick a state and enter the shift. You'll get every break the law requires, the latest time each can start, a suggested schedule, and — if you enter the breaks actually taken — a compliance check with California premium pay.
Indiana · Adult (18+) · 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
On site 10 h · hours worked 10 h
No meal or rest break is required by Indiana law for this shift.
Federal law still applies: breaks of about 5–20 minutes you choose to give must be paid, and an unpaid meal must be a real duty-free break (ordinarily 30+ minutes).
Scheduling aid, not legal advice. Industry wage orders, union contracts and employer-specific exemptions can change the rules — see the Indiana break law page for citations.
Indiana meal break law
No state meal-period requirement for adults. IN.gov FAQ: 'In general, Indiana law does not require employers to provide adult employees lunch breaks or other breaks.' Federal 29 CFR 785.19 applies.
Source: official guidance
Indiana rest break law
No state rest-break requirement for adult private-sector employees. Federal rule: short breaks (about 5-20 minutes), if given, must be paid (29 CFR 785.18).
Breaks for minors in Indiana
No current break requirement for minors. Indiana Department of Labor Youth Employment FAQ: 'Employers are no longer required to provide a minor with a break or lunch regardless of the number of hours worked in a day.' (Indiana formerly required one or two rest breaks totaling at least 30 minutes for minors scheduled to work 6 or more consecutive hours.)
Source: IC 22-2-17 (Youth Employment; break provision repealed)
Lactation breaks in Indiana
Applies to employers with 25 or more employees. 'To the extent reasonably possible, an employer shall provide a private location, other than a toilet stall, where an employee can express the employee's breast milk in privacy during any period away from the employee's assigned duties.' The employer must provide refrigeration for expressed milk or allow the employee to use her own portable cold storage device until the end of the workday. Employers are protected from liability related to milk expression/storage except for willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith. No break-time or pay requirement for private employers.
Pay: No state paid-break requirement for private employers (federal PUMP Act rules apply).
Federal floor (PUMP Act): reasonable break time and a private space that isn't a bathroom for one year after birth, for nearly all employees; unpaid unless the employee isn't fully relieved of duty. Employers with fewer than 50 employees may be exempt only if compliance would cause undue hardship.
Source: IC 22-2-14-1, 22-2-14-2
Recent changes
- Jan 1, 2025Indiana youth employment changes took effect: 16- and 17-year-olds may work the same hours as adults; 14-15-year-olds may work until 9 p.m. June 1-Labor Day.
Frequently asked questions
Are breaks required by law in Indiana?
No meal or rest break law — Indiana no longer requires breaks for minors either. Federal law requires no breaks, but short breaks that are given must be paid and unpaid meal periods must be duty-free.
How many breaks do you get for an 8-hour shift in Indiana?
None for adults — Indiana has no general meal or rest break law. Under federal law, any short break you give (5–20 minutes) must be paid.
Do minors get breaks in Indiana?
No current break requirement for minors. Indiana Department of Labor Youth Employment FAQ: 'Employers are no longer required to provide a minor with a break or lunch regardless of the number of hours worked in a day.' (Indiana formerly required one or two rest breaks totaling at least 30 minutes for minors scheduled to work 6 or more consecutive hours.)
Are lactation breaks required in Indiana?
Applies to employers with 25 or more employees. 'To the extent reasonably possible, an employer shall provide a private location, other than a toilet stall, where an employee can express the employee's breast milk in privacy during any period away from the employee's assigned duties.' The employer must provide refrigeration for expressed milk or allow the employee to use her own portable cold storage device until the end of the workday. Employers are protected from liability related to milk expression/storage except for willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith. No break-time or pay requirement for private employers. The federal PUMP Act also applies: reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for one year after birth.
Official Indiana sources
Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-07Compare
Also “No break law”: Arizona, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming
Related Resources on This Site
Helpful guides
General information, not legal advice. Industry rules, union contracts and agency exemptions can change these requirements. Confirm with Indiana Department of Labor.