Whether you’re clocking in at a fast food counter, retail store, construction site or office job, one thing most Texas workers have in common is the need for a break.

Maybe it’s a moment to sit down, eat lunch or just breathe between tasks — but how much of that time are you actually allowed to take?

Many workers assume there are laws that guarantee breaks during the workday. But what those rules look like, and whether they apply to you, can depend on everything from your job title to your city.

Here’s what Texas employees need to know about rest periods, meal breaks and your rights on the clock.

Are Texas employers required to give workers breaks?

There is no Texas state law that requires private employers to give adult workers breaks during the workday — not even for lunch.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission and the U.S. Department of Labor, neither state nor federal law mandates paid or unpaid breaks for most employees.

However, if an employer does choose to provide rest or meal breaks, they must follow Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines—which range from how long breaks must be to whether the time should be paid, depending on the type of break and duties performed.

If breaks are optional, are short breaks ever paid?

Yes. Under federal law, short rest breaks of 20 minutes or less must be paid if they are offered.

These include coffee breaks, quick breathers, or even smoking breaks — as long as they’re under 20 minutes and not unauthorized.

Even if a...

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