--- title: "Illinois Meal and Rest Break Laws | MCC Solutions" description: "Illinois break rules: 20 min, at 7½ hrs for meals, some employers: 15 min from 7 hrs for rest breaks, with Illinois's own wording and a shift-length table." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/bookkeeping/meal-break-laws-illinois" --- Breaks · Illinois # Illinois meal and rest break laws When Illinois requires a meal break, whether short rest breaks are required, the rule for young workers, and what Illinois's official pages say about waivers, who is covered and missed breaks. [![Intuit ProAdvisor Gold tier badge](/img/credentials/intuit-proadvisor-gold.png)](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77)Gold tier in Intuit's ProAdvisor program. [See my Intuit listing](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77) Keeping your own books? Tallyfinch does invoices, bank import and reports on your computer. [See Tallyfinch](/bookkeeping/mcc-books-downloadable-bookkeeping-software) **Short answer.** A 20-minute meal break for every 7.5 hours worked, starting no later than 5 hours into the shift, plus another 20 minutes on a shift of 12 hours or more. Only hotel room attendants in a county of more than three million people: at least two paid 15-minute rest breaks in each workday of at least 7 hours (US DOL table of state rest-period rules, revised January 1, 2023). The table lists no other Illinois rest-break rule, and says states not listed don't require paid rest periods. ## Illinois breaks at a glance Meal break A 20-minute meal break for every 7.5 hours worked, starting no later than 5 hours into the shift, plus another 20 minutes on a shift of 12 hours or more. Rest breaks Only hotel room attendants in a county of more than three million people: at least two paid 15-minute rest breaks in each workday of at least 7 hours (US DOL table of state rest-period rules, revised January 1, 2023). The table lists no other Illinois rest-break rule, and says states not listed don't require paid rest periods. Paid? Rest: paid. Minors (under 16) Minors under 16 get a scheduled meal period of at least 30 minutes no later than the 5th consecutive hour of work. Law One Day Rest in Seven Act (820 ILCS 140); Child Labor Law (820 ILCS 205) Agency Illinois Department of Labor, Fair Labor Standards Division ## In Illinois's words **Meal break** Hiring in another state? [Employer registration in Illinois, done for you](/bookkeeping/out-of-state-employer-registration), or [a free bookkeeping health check](/bookkeeping/health-check). "for every 7.5 hours worked no later than 5 hours after the start of the shift." **Rest breaks** "shall receive a minimum of two 15-minute paid rest break periods in each workday" **Minors** "A scheduled meal period of at least 30 minutes shall be provided no later than the 5th consecutive hour of work." ## Breaks by shift length in Illinois For an adult working the hours in one stretch, Illinois's rule as we read it calls for: | Shift | Meal break | Rest breaks | | --- | --- | --- | | 4 hours | None yet | None yet | | 6½ hours | None yet | None yet | | 7 hours | None yet | 15 minutes and 15 minutes | | 7½ hours | 20 minutes | 15 minutes and 15 minutes | | 8 hours | 20 minutes | 15 minutes and 15 minutes | | 11½ hours | 20 minutes | 15 minutes and 15 minutes | | 12 hours | 20 minutes and 20 minutes | 15 minutes and 15 minutes | Other shift lengths: [open the checker set to Illinois](/bookkeeping/meal-and-rest-break-checker?state=il). ## Who the Illinois rule covers Employees in general, except those whose meal periods are set by a collective bargaining agreement. ## Waivers and exceptions in Illinois The meal and day-of-rest rules don't apply where a collective bargaining agreement governs meal periods and days off; if the agreement is silent, the Act applies. ## If a Illinois employer misses a break Employers with fewer than 25 employees: up to $250 in damages to the employee per offense plus up to $250 per employee to the Department. 25 or more employees: up to $500 each. Every day without a required meal period is a separate offense. ## Worth knowing in Illinois If an employee works through the meal break, the Department says it must be paid. Reasonable restroom breaks don't count against it. ## Official Illinois sources - [Illinois Department of Labor: One Day Rest in Seven Act FAQ](https://labor.illinois.gov/faqs/odrisa-faq.html) (checked November 2026) - [Illinois Department of Labor: Child Labor Law compliance](https://labor.illinois.gov/laws-rules/fls/child-labor-law-compliance.html) (checked November 2026) - [U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (revised January 1, 2023)](https://www.dol.gov/whd/state/rest.htm) (checked November 2026) Illinois rules as published on the pages above, checked November 2026. General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. A union contract, an industry order or a city ordinance can add to them. ## Illinois break questions **When is a meal break required in Illinois?** A 20-minute meal break for every 7.5 hours worked, starting no later than 5 hours into the shift, plus another 20 minutes on a shift of 12 hours or more. Illinois Department of Labor, Fair Labor Standards Division puts it as "for every 7.5 hours worked no later than 5 hours after the start of the shift." **How many rest breaks does Illinois require?** Only hotel room attendants in a county of more than three million people: at least two paid 15-minute rest breaks in each workday of at least 7 hours (US DOL table of state rest-period rules, revised January 1, 2023). The table lists no other Illinois rest-break rule, and says states not listed don't require paid rest periods. **Can a Illinois employee skip or waive a break?** The meal and day-of-rest rules don't apply where a collective bargaining agreement governs meal periods and days off; if the agreement is silent, the Act applies. **Who is covered by the Illinois break rule?** Employees in general, except those whose meal periods are set by a collective bargaining agreement. **What breaks do minors get in Illinois?** Minors under 16 get a scheduled meal period of at least 30 minutes no later than the 5th consecutive hour of work. (Ages: under 16.) **What happens if a Illinois employer skips a required break?** Employers with fewer than 25 employees: up to $250 in damages to the employee per offense plus up to $250 per employee to the Department. 25 or more employees: up to $500 each. Every day without a required meal period is a separate offense. All states: [meal and rest break laws by state](/bookkeeping/meal-and-rest-break-laws-by-state) · [Delaware](/bookkeeping/meal-break-laws-delaware) · [Kentucky](/bookkeeping/meal-break-laws-kentucky) Tallyfinch ### Books you keep on your own computer Tallyfinch does invoices, bills, bank import, reconciliation and the main reports, in a file you own. $99 once, then $5 a month for updates; the app keeps working if you stop the plan. It does not do payroll or sales tax filing. The free download records up to 60 entries. [See Tallyfinch](/bookkeeping/mcc-books-downloadable-bookkeeping-software) [Download it free](/tools/pro/trial/mccBooks) [Compare the three apps](/software) ## Want payroll handled for you? [See bookkeeping services](/bookkeeping/)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)