Pennsylvania Break Laws (2026)
Last updated: 2026-10-07 · Checked against the statute text and state agency guidance · Minors only
| Adult meal break | Not required |
|---|---|
| Adult rest break | Not required (short breaks you give must be paid) |
| Minors | Under 18: 30 min if over 5 h; max 5 h straight |
| Lactation | Federal PUMP Act only |
| Enforcing agency | Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I), Bureau of Labor Law Compliance |
Pennsylvania 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.
Pennsylvania · Adult (18+) · 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
On site 10 h · hours worked 10 h
No meal or rest break is required by Pennsylvania 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). Different rules apply to minors — switch the employee type.
Scheduling aid, not legal advice. Industry wage orders, union contracts and employer-specific exemptions can change the rules — see the Pennsylvania break law page for citations.
Pennsylvania meal break law
No general meal-period requirement for adults. PA DLI: 'Employers are not required to give breaks for employees 18 and over.' Breaks under 20 minutes that are allowed must be paid; meal periods over 20 minutes need not be paid if no work is performed. Exception: seasonal farm workers (see notes).
Source: official guidance
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
Child Labor Act: 'No minor may be employed for more than five hours continuously without an interval of at least 30 minutes for a rest break. No period of less than 30 minutes shall be deemed to interrupt a continuous period of work.' (PA DLI summarizes this as breaks of at least 30 minutes for minors 14-17 who work five or more consecutive hours.)
Source: Pennsylvania Child Labor Act, Act 151 of 2012 (43 P.S. §40.1 et seq.)
Lactation breaks in Pennsylvania
No statewide workplace lactation-break law; federal PUMP Act applies. (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have local lactation ordinances/policies; not covered here.)
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 Pennsylvania?
No adult break law. Minors under 18: a 30-minute break after more than 5 continuous hours. 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 Pennsylvania?
None for adults — Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Child Labor Act: 'No minor may be employed for more than five hours continuously without an interval of at least 30 minutes for a rest break. No period of less than 30 minutes shall be deemed to interrupt a continuous period of work.' (PA DLI summarizes this as breaks of at least 30 minutes for minors 14-17 who work five or more consecutive hours.)
Are lactation breaks required in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania 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.
Official Pennsylvania sources
Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-07Compare
Also “Minors only”: Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin
← Oregon · All states table · Rhode Island → · Pennsylvania overtime
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Helpful guides
General information, not legal advice. Industry rules, union contracts and agency exemptions can change these requirements. Confirm with Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I), Bureau of Labor Law Compliance.