As we reported back in July, Minnesota has enacted significant changes to its meal and rest break laws that will take effect on January 1, 2026. With the effective date approaching, now is the time for employers to finalize their preparations to ensure compliance.
These amendments, part of the omnibus bill signed by Governor Walz, replace previous vague standards with specific time requirements for both meal and rest periods. Failure to comply can result in costly penalties, including liability for missed break time plus liquidated damages.
New Rest Break Requirements
Under the current law, employers are only required to provide “adequate time” to use the restroom every four hours. Starting January 1, 2026, this standard becomes much stricter:
- Specific Duration. Employers must provide a paid rest break of at least 15 minutes for every four consecutive hours of work.
- Restroom Access. If an employee needs more than 15 minutes to use the nearest convenient restroom, the employer must allow that additional time.
- Frequency. This break must be allowed “within” each four-hour period, meaning it cannot necessarily be added onto the beginning or end of a shift.
New Meal Break Requirements
The threshold for providing a meal break has also been lowered, impacting shifts shorter than the standard eight-hour day.
- 6-Hour Trigger. Employers must now allow a meal break for any employee working six or more consecutive hours (previously required only after eight hours).
- 30-Minute Minimum. The break must be at least 30 minutes long.
- Paid vs. Unpaid: Employers are not required to pay for this meal break, provided the employee is completely relieved of duty. If the employee is required to work or remain on call during this time, the break must be paid.
Key Enforcement Changes
The new law adds teeth to enforcement. If an employer fails to allow these required breaks, they are liable to the employee for the value of the break time at the employee’s regular hourly rate, plus an equal amount as liquidated damages. This effectively doubles the cost of a missed break.
Next Steps for Employers
To be ready for the New Year, Minnesota employers should take the following actions immediately:
- Audit Schedules: Review employee shifts to ensure that those working six hours are scheduled for a 30-minute meal break and that 15-minute rest breaks are built into every four-hour block.
- Update Handbooks: Revise your employee handbook and break policies to explicitly state the new 15-minute and 30-minute standards.
- Train Supervisors: Ensure managers understand that “adequate time” is no longer the standard and that denying a break can lead to direct financial penalties.
- Document Waivers: While employees may voluntarily choose to skip a break, it is best practice to obtain a written waiver or acknowledgment to protect your organization against future claims.
