Minnesota has enacted SF 17, signed into law on June 14, 2025, to clarify and expand employee rights related to meal and rest breaks. These provisions take effect January 1, 2026, and impose new compliance standards for employers. Employers must now provide defined break periods and are subject to financial penalties for violations.
Rest Break Requirements
Under the new law, employees must receive a break of at least 15 minutes during every four (4) consecutive hours worked. The break must be long enough for employees to use the nearest restroom. This replaces the previous standard that required only “adequate time.” If an employer fails to provide this break, employees are entitled to compensation at their regular rate of pay, along with an additional equal amount as liquidated damages.
Meal Break Requirements
Employees who work six (6) or more consecutive hours must now be provided with a 30-minute unpaid meal break. This updates the previous rule that applied only to shifts of eight (8) hours or more. Although the meal break may remain unpaid, if not provided, employers are required to compensate the employee for the missed break and pay an equivalent amount in liquidated damages.
Next Steps for Employers
The Minnesota Department of Labor is expected to provide additional guidance, in the interim, employers should review and prepare to update all related meals and rest break policies and scheduling procedures to reflect these new requirements by the effective date.
Supervisors should be trained to ensure that all employees receive the required breaks and understand the implications of non-compliance.
Payroll systems should also be reviewed to ensure missed breaks are tracked down and compensated correctly.
