# Is Your Employer Required to Give You a Break (US/Pa)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-employer-required-to-give-you-a-break-us-pa/98141>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 13, 2002, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-employer-required-to-give-you-a-break-us-pa/98141 "2002-03-13T23:24:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-employer-required-to-give-you-a-break-us-pa/98141/1 "2002-03-13T23:24:24Z")

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This came out of something which happened yesterday which lead to a rant, but, I’d like to hear both an answer and related opinions.

Under US Federal law and/or Pennsylvania state law, is an employer required to give full time, professional, salaried employees a break? If so, for how long? I know the federal laws are different for so-called technical/professional workers thanks to a highly unpleasant incident some years ago. I also recall something about certain required breaks, depending on how many hours were worked when I was working as a sales clerk when I was in college, but that was hourly, part time work.

Thanks for the info,  
CJ

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**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-employer-required-to-give-you-a-break-us-pa/98141/2 "2002-03-14T00:35:11Z")

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In PA, for salaried or hourly work, a rest/meal period is _not_ required. [Here](http://www.dol.gov/dol/esa/public/programs/whd/state/rest.htm) is a table of states that do require breaks.

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**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-employer-required-to-give-you-a-break-us-pa/98141/3 "2002-03-14T11:34:25Z")

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Thanks.

CJ

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**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-employer-required-to-give-you-a-break-us-pa/98141/4 "2002-03-14T12:29:58Z")

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If you are under 18 they are required by the Federal govt to give you a break.