Tennessee break laws require 30 minutes for anyone scheduled for 6 consecutive hours or more, not during the first hour (tipped food-service workers may waive in writing), and no Tennessee law requires paid rest breaks; under the federal FLSA any short break of 5 to 20 minutes an employer does give must be paid.
This guide gives the exact tennessee break laws rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next. Rules verified against Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards Unit on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards Unit or an attorney before you rely on it.
Tennessee Break Laws at a Glance
| Meal break | 30 minutes for anyone scheduled for 6 consecutive hours or more, not during the first hour (tipped food-service workers may waive in writing) |
| Meal statute | Tenn. Code 50-2-103(h) |
| Paid rest break | No Tennessee law requires paid rest breaks; under the federal FLSA any short break of 5 to 20 minutes an employer does give must be paid |
| Rest break required | No |
In This Tennessee Break Laws Guide:
Tennessee Break Laws: Meal Breaks
30 minutes for anyone scheduled for 6 consecutive hours or more, not during the first hour (tipped food-service workers may waive in writing). The rule comes from Tenn. Code 50-2-103(h). A meal break can be unpaid only when you are completely relieved of duty; a lunch at your desk answering phones is paid work time.
Tennessee Break Laws: Rest Breaks
No Tennessee law requires paid rest breaks; under the federal FLSA any short break of 5 to 20 minutes an employer does give must be paid. Under the federal rule a break of 5 to 20 minutes is counted as hours worked whether or not the state requires it, so an employer that gives a 10-minute break may not dock it.
Tennessee Break Laws at a Glance
Rules verified against Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards Unit on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards Unit or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.
| Meal break | 30 minutes for anyone scheduled for 6 consecutive hours or more, not during the first hour (tipped food-service workers may waive in writing) |
| Meal statute | Tenn. Code 50-2-103(h) |
| Paid rest break | No Tennessee law requires paid rest breaks; under the federal FLSA any short break of 5 to 20 minutes an employer does give must be paid |
| Rest break required | No |
Tennessee Break Laws for Hourly Employees
Hourly workers get the meal and rest rules above; exempt salaried workers are usually outside them.
Tennessee Break Laws for Minors
Tennessee law requires an unpaid meal or rest break for minors scheduled for a long enough shift, and the break cannot be scheduled during or before the first hour of work (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-5-115). The adult “ample opportunity to rest” exception does not apply to workers under 18, and they cannot waive the break.
Tennessee Break Laws for Nursing Mothers
Tennessee requires employers to give reasonable unpaid break time each day to express breast milk, overlapping existing breaks where possible, and to make reasonable efforts to provide a private space near the work area that is not a toilet stall, unless it would unduly disrupt operations (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-1-305). The federal PUMP Act also generally requires reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for most employees.
Confirm the details with the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division.
What to Do If Tennessee Break Laws Are Ignored
In Tennessee a denied meal or rest break is handled as a wage claim with the Labor Standards Unit of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Workplace safety (TOSHA) does not handle these complaints. The required break is unpaid, but if you worked through it, you may be owed pay for that time, so keep your schedules and time records.
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The department notes that state law does not protect your job if you file a break complaint, so you may want to confirm your options with the agency before filing.
Other Tennessee Break Laws Rules to Know
Tennessee exempts adult workers from the meal or rest break requirement when the nature of the business gives them ample opportunity to rest or take a break. Tipped employees in food and beverage service may give up the break by voluntary mutual agreement with the employer (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-2-103(h)). Tennessee has no state requirement for additional short rest breaks.
Breaks denied? The wage-claim agency can order the pay you are owed.
Contact Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards Unit
Tennessee — the bottom line
- Tennessee break laws require 30 minutes for anyone scheduled for 6 consecutive hours or more, not during the first hour (tipped food-service workers….
- Under tennessee break laws any break of 20 minutes or less that you are given is paid time, and a skipped meal period is paid work.
- Tennessee break laws are enforced through a free wage claim; keep a log of the breaks you did not get.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are employers required to give lunch breaks under Tennessee break laws?
30 minutes for anyone scheduled for 6 consecutive hours or more, not during the first hour (tipped food-service workers may waive in writing).
Does Tennessee require paid rest breaks?
No Tennessee law requires paid rest breaks; under the federal FLSA any short break of 5 to 20 minutes an employer does give must be paid.
Can I be made to work through lunch in Tennessee?
If you work through a meal period you must be paid for it; where the state requires the break, the employer also violates the break law.
What are the Tennessee break laws for minors?
Tennessee law requires an unpaid meal or rest break for minors scheduled for a long enough shift, and the break cannot be scheduled during or before the first hour of work (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-5-115).
What can I do if my Tennessee employer denies breaks?
In Tennessee a denied meal or rest break is handled as a wage claim with the Labor Standards Unit of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Workplace safety (TOSHA) does not handle these complaints.
Official Tennessee Sources & Resources
- Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards Unit: https://www.tn.gov/workforce/employees/labor-laws.html
- Tennessee statute: Tenn. Code 50-2-103(h)
- Verified source: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/meal-breaks
- Verified source: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/rest-periods
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov
This tennessee break laws guide was last verified against official Tennessee sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Tennessee Workplace Rights Guides
- Tennessee Overtime Laws: Threshold, Rate and Exemptions
- Tennessee Labor Laws: Every Rule in One Place
- Tennessee Sick Leave Law: Accrual and Caps
- Tennessee Final Paycheck Law: Deadlines and Penalties
- Unemployment and Workplace Rights Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Final-paycheck deadlines, penalties and non compete rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current rule with your state labor department or a licensed attorney before you act.