Washington State Break Laws: Meals, Rests, and More (2025)

Washington has specific break requirements for minors:

• Youth Under 16 Years:
  • Must receive a 10-minute paid rest break for every 2 hours worked.
  • Cannot work more than 2 consecutive hours without a rest or meal break.
  • Must take a 30-minute meal break after 4 hours of work, separate from rest breaks.
• Youth Aged 16-17 Years:
  • Must receive a 10-minute paid rest break for each 4-hour work period.
  • Cannot work more than 3 hours without a rest break.
  • Entitled to a 30-minute meal break if they work more than 5 hours in a shift.

Minors are required to take breaks to promote well-being and prevent overwork, and these breaks cannot be waived.

Agricultural workers in Washington also have specific break requirements:

• Rest Breaks:
  • Paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked.
  • Piece-rate agricultural workers must be paid at their regular rate or the minimum wage (whichever is greater) during breaks.
• Meal Periods:
  • Unpaid 30-minute meal period for every 5 hours worked.
  • Additional 30-minute meal period required if working over 11 hours in a day.

These regulations ensure that agricultural workers, especially those paid by piece rate, are compensated fairly during breaks.

Washington law mandates specific accommodations for pregnant and nursing employees:

• Breaks for Pregnancy-Related Needs:
  • Employers must provide reasonable accommodations, such as longer or more frequent restroom breaks and modified food or drink policies.
• Breastfeeding Accommodations:
  • Employers must provide reasonable break time to express breast milk for up to two years after childbirth.
  • A private location (not a bathroom) must be provided for breastfeeding, if available on-site.

Employers are required to accommodate the unique needs of pregnant or nursing employees without retaliation, ensuring a supportive work environment.

Healthcare employees in Washington are subject to specific meal and rest break requirements due to the nature of their work:

• Uninterrupted Breaks:
  • Healthcare employees must receive uninterrupted meal and rest breaks unless there is an unforeseeable emergent circumstance or a clinical need that may affect patient safety.
  • If a rest break is interrupted, employees must be provided with an additional 10-minute uninterrupted break as soon as possible.

These rules recognize the unique demands on healthcare staff, ensuring they receive necessary rest while accommodating critical patient care needs.

Some employees believe that Washington employers can set break times without employee input, regardless of work schedules or timing needs.

In Washington, employees must receive a paid 10-minute rest break for every four hours worked, ideally near the middle of the work period. For meal breaks, a 30-minute unpaid meal period must be provided after five hours of work. Employers must follow these guidelines to ensure timely breaks that promote worker well-being.

It’s a common belief that during busy periods, employees in Washington can voluntarily skip their rest breaks to continue working.

Washington law requires employers to provide rest breaks, and employees are entitled to take them regardless of workload. Skipping a rest break to work through a shift violates state labor regulations, and employers must ensure employees receive their legally mandated rest time.

Some employers in Washington think that as long as they inform employees about break policies, they don’t need to document whether breaks are actually taken.

Washington requires employers to maintain accurate records of meal periods, especially for shifts exceeding five hours. Proper documentation helps prove compliance in case of an audit or complaint.