Meal and rest breaks for educators
Schools should make sure educators have the meal and rest breaks required in their state. This helps educators work safely, keeps timesheets accurate, and avoids additional pay being owed when a required break is missed or interrupted.
What counts as a compliant break?
A meal break is usually unpaid, but only if the educator is completely relieved from work duties during the break. If the educator is expected to supervise students, stay on duty, answer questions, remain “on call,” or continue working in any way, the time may need to be paid.
A rest break is a shorter break, usually 10–15 minutes for every 4 hour shifts depending on the state. Where rest breaks are required, they are usually paid.
If an educator misses a required break, works through an unpaid break, or is not fully relieved from duty, Zen may need to pay the educator additional compensation. This may include paying for the time worked and, in some states, extra premium pay or penalties.
State-specific requirements
| State | Meal break requirement | Rest break requirement | Compensation impact if missed or interrupted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | No state-mandated meal break for adult educators. If a meal break is provided, it can only be unpaid if the educator is fully relieved from duty for at least 30 minutes. | No state-mandated rest break for adult educators. | If the educator works during an unpaid meal break, the time may need to be paid. |
| California | 30-minute meal break if working more than 5 hours. A second 30-minute meal break may be required if working more than 10 hours. | Paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked, or major fraction of 4 hours. | If a required meal or rest break is not provided, educators are owed 1 additional hour of pay for that workday. If the educator worked during an unpaid meal break, the worked time may also need to be paid. |
| Colorado | 30-minute meal break if the shift exceeds 5 consecutive hours. If a duty-free meal break is not practical, the educator should be allowed to eat while working and be paid for that time. | Paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked, or major fraction of 4 hours. | Missed or interrupted breaks may create back-pay or penalty exposure. |
| Illinois | 20-minute meal break if working 7.5 continuous hours or more. The break should be provided no later than 5 hours after the shift starts. | No general state-mandated rest break for adult educators. | Missed or interrupted meal breaks may create wage or penalty exposure. |
| Kansas | No state-mandated meal break for adult educators. If a meal break is provided, it can only be unpaid if the educator is fully relieved from duty for at least 30 minutes. | No state-mandated rest break for adult educators. | If the educator works during an unpaid meal break, the time may need to be paid. |
| Massachusetts | 30-minute meal break if working more than 6 hours in a day. The educator must be free of all duties and free to leave the workplace. | No general state-mandated rest break for adult educators. | If the educator is required to work through an unpaid meal break, 3x the damage should be paid for the time worked. |
| Michigan | No state-mandated meal break for adult educators. If a meal break is provided, it can only be unpaid if the educator is fully relieved from duty for at least 30 minutes. | No state-mandated rest break for adult educators. | If the educator works during an unpaid meal break, the time may need to be paid. |
| Minnesota | 30-minute meal break when working 6 or more consecutive hours. | Paid rest break for every 4 consecutive hours worked. | If a break is missed, educators need to be paid the 2x the time worked. |
| Ohio | No state-mandated meal break for adult educators. If a meal break is provided, it can only be unpaid if the educator is fully relieved from duty for at least 30 minutes. | No state-mandated rest break for adult educators. | If the educator works during an unpaid meal break, the time may need to be paid. |
What schools should do
Before the shift, make sure the educator knows when they can take their meal and rest breaks.
During the day, the educator should be fully relieved from duty during any meal or rest break. They should not be expected to supervise students, cover a classroom, monitor lunch or recess, answer calls, or remain responsible for students during that time.
If the educator cannot take a required break, or if they work during an unpaid meal break, this should be reflected accurately on the timesheet and the time worked including compensation should be paid.