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Kansas Break Laws (2026)

Last updated: 2026-10-07 · Checked against the statute text and state agency guidance · No break law

Short answer: No meal or rest break law for adults or minors.
Adult meal breakNot required
Adult rest breakNot required (short breaks you give must be paid)
MinorsNo separate rule — adult rules (if any) apply
LactationFederal PUMP Act only
Enforcing agencyKansas Department of Labor, Employment Standards Division

Kansas 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.

Quick shifts:

Kansas · Adult (18+) · 8:00 AM–6:00 PM

On site 10 h · hours worked 10 h

No meal or rest break is required by Kansas 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 Kansas break law page for citations.

Kansas meal break law

No state meal-period requirement. Kansas DOL FAQ: 'Breaks are not required under state or federal law. However, many employers schedule breaks to boost employee morale and productivity.' Federal 29 CFR 785.19 applies.

Source: official guidance

Kansas 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 Kansas

No minor-specific break rule. Kansas DOL: breaks are not required under state law; minors under 16 are limited to 3 hours on a school day and 8 hours on a non-school day.

Lactation breaks in Kansas

No state workplace lactation-break law for private employers; federal PUMP Act applies.

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: None (29 U.S.C. 218d applies)

Frequently asked questions

Are breaks required by law in Kansas?

No meal or rest break law for adults or minors. 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 Kansas?

None for adults — Kansas 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 Kansas?

No minor-specific break rule. Kansas DOL: breaks are not required under state law; minors under 16 are limited to 3 hours on a school day and 8 hours on a non-school day.

Are lactation breaks required in Kansas?

Kansas has no state lactation-break law, so the federal PUMP Act applies: reasonable break time (unpaid unless the employee isn't fully relieved of duty) and a private space that isn't a bathroom, for one year after birth.

General information, not legal advice. Industry rules, union contracts and agency exemptions can change these requirements. Confirm with Kansas Department of Labor, Employment Standards Division.