Break Laws in Oregon
Oregon has meal and rest break requirements
Oregon requires both meal and rest breaks, with rules similar to California and Washington. Employers who fail to provide required breaks may be subject to penalties.
Break requirements
| Meal break required? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Meal break duration | 30 minutes |
| Meal break trigger | After 6 hours worked |
| Meal break paid? | No |
| Second meal break | Required for shifts over 14 hours |
| Meal break details | Employees working 6 or more hours must receive a 30-minute unpaid meal break. A second meal break is required for shifts of 14+ hours. The first meal break must be taken between the 2nd and 5th hour of work. The employee must be completely relieved of all duties. |
| Rest break required? | Yes |
| Rest break duration | 10 minutes |
| Rest break frequency | Every 4 hours (or major fraction) |
| Rest break paid? | Yes |
| Rest break details | Employees are entitled to a paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked or major fraction thereof. The break should be taken approximately in the middle of the work segment. |
| Statute | ORS SS 653.261; OAR 839-020-0050 |
Break Laws in Oregon: what you need to know
Oregon requires employers to provide both meal breaks and rest breaks to employees. Oregon requires both meal and rest breaks, with rules similar to California and Washington. Employers who fail to provide required breaks may be subject to penalties. Having both requirements gives Oregon workers stronger protections than most states, where one or both types of breaks are left to employer discretion.
For meal breaks, Oregon law requires 30 minutes for shifts of a specified length hours or more. This break is typically unpaid if the employee is completely relieved of duties. Employees working 6 or more hours must receive a 30-minute unpaid meal break. A second meal break is required for shifts of 14+ hours. The first meal break must be taken between the 2nd and 5th hour of work. The employee must be completely relieved of all duties.
For rest breaks, Oregon requires 10 minutes for every 4 hours worked. Rest breaks must be paid. Employees are entitled to a paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked or major fraction thereof. The break should be taken approximately in the middle of the work segment.
For Oregon workers, understanding your break rights is important for daily quality of life. If your employer violates Oregon's break law, you may be entitled to additional compensation or penalties. Workers in physically demanding jobs, healthcare, and retail are particularly affected by break policies because fatigue from continuous work can affect both performance and safety.
It is also worth noting that some Oregon workers may be covered by industry-specific regulations even if the state lacks a general break law. For example, commercial drivers are subject to federal Hours of Service regulations that require rest periods. Healthcare workers may have facility-specific policies mandated by accreditation standards. And workers under 18 are often subject to stricter break requirements under child labor laws, even in states that do not require breaks for adults.
More Oregon workplace laws
Check other workplace law topics for Oregon:
Frequently asked questions about break laws in Oregon
Yes. Oregon requires a meal break of 30 minutes for qualifying shifts.
Yes. Oregon requires paid rest breaks.
If Oregon law requires a meal break and your employer requires you to work through it, you may be entitled to additional compensation or penalties.
Most states, including Oregon, have separate break requirements for workers under 18 under child labor laws. These requirements are typically stricter than adult break laws. If you are a minor worker, check Oregon's child labor laws for your specific break rights.
Document the violations and file a complaint with the Oregon Department of Labor. You may be entitled to additional pay or penalties for missed breaks.