Nebraska Break Laws (2026)
Last updated: 2026-10-07 · Checked against the statute text and state agency guidance · Only certain industries
| Adult meal break | 30 min if 8+ h — only: an assembling plant, workshop or mechanical establishment (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-212) |
|---|---|
| Adult rest break | Not required (short breaks you give must be paid) |
| Minors | No separate rule — adult rules (if any) apply |
| Lactation | Accommodation law (15+ employees) |
| Enforcing agency | Nebraska Department of Labor, Labor Standards |
Heads up: Some guides say Nebraska requires a break for minors after 5 hours, and the U.S. DOL's minors footnote lists Nebraska — but no Nebraska statute requires one.
Nebraska 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.
Nebraska · Adult (18+) · 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
On site 10 h · hours worked 10 h
No meal or rest break is required by Nebraska law for this shift.
Rules exist for an assembling plant, workshop or mechanical establishment (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-212) — tick the box if that's you. 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 Nebraska break law page for citations.
Nebraska meal break law
Covered employers 'shall allow all of their employees not less than thirty consecutive minutes for lunch in each eight-hour shift,' and may not require employees to remain in the buildings or on the premises where their labor is performed during that time.
- Who's covered
- ONLY employers owning or operating an assembling plant, workshop, or mechanical establishment employing one or more persons. Does not apply to employment covered by a valid collective-bargaining agreement or other written agreement between employer and employee. Other employers: no meal requirement.
- Paid or unpaid
- Not required to be paid (employee must be free to leave the premises).
- Waivers
- Not applicable where a valid CBA or other written employer-employee agreement covers the employment.
- Exemptions
- All employers other than assembling plants, workshops and mechanical establishments; CBA/written agreement.
Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §48-212
Nebraska 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 Nebraska
No minor-specific break rule found. The Nebraska DOL 'Employment of Minors' page lists hour limits (14-15: no more than 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week, not before 6 a.m. or after 10 p.m.) but no break rule. Some private guides claim a 30-minute break after 5 hours for minors; no statute supporting that was found.
Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§48-301 to 48-313 (no break provision found)
Lactation breaks in Nebraska
Under the Nebraska Fair Employment Practice Act (employers with 15 or more employees), employers must reasonably accommodate known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions unless it would impose an undue hardship; 'reasonable accommodation' expressly includes 'break time and appropriate facilities for breast-feeding or expressing breast milk.' No specific minutes, pay rule or time limit after birth.
Pay: Not specified.
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: Neb. Rev. Stat. §48-1102(11) (as amended by LB627, 2015; LB451, 2021)
Frequently asked questions
Are breaks required by law in Nebraska?
Only assembling plants, workshops and mechanical establishments: 30 consecutive minutes for lunch in each 8-hour shift, off the premises if the employee wants. 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 Nebraska?
None for adults — Nebraska has no general meal or rest break law (except: an assembling plant, workshop or mechanical establishment (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-212)). Under federal law, any short break you give (5–20 minutes) must be paid.
Do minors get breaks in Nebraska?
No minor-specific break rule found. The Nebraska DOL 'Employment of Minors' page lists hour limits (14-15: no more than 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week, not before 6 a.m. or after 10 p.m.) but no break rule. Some private guides claim a 30-minute break after 5 hours for minors; no statute supporting that was found.
Are lactation breaks required in Nebraska?
Under the Nebraska Fair Employment Practice Act (employers with 15 or more employees), employers must reasonably accommodate known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions unless it would impose an undue hardship; 'reasonable accommodation' expressly includes 'break time and appropriate facilities for breast-feeding or expressing breast milk.' No specific minutes, pay rule or time limit after birth. The federal PUMP Act also applies: reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for one year after birth.
Official Nebraska sources
Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-07Compare
Also “Only certain industries”: Maryland
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 Nebraska Department of Labor, Labor Standards.