Understanding Indiana's Break Laws: Your Rights Explained

Indiana is one of the few states in the US with no specific provisions regarding break laws. While federal laws govern breaks, Indiana employers are not required to offer meal or rest breaks to their adult employees. However, Indiana law mandates that employers provide rest breaks for teenage workers under certain circumstances.

Indiana employers are not required to offer meal or rest breaks

Indiana is one of the few US states that do not have specific provisions regarding break laws. Indiana employers are not required to offer their employees meal or rest breaks. This means that employees in Indiana are not legally entitled to time off to eat lunch or take short breaks during the workday.

While federal law requires employers to pay for hours worked, including shorter breaks, it does not require employers to offer break time in the first place. Indiana law aligns with this federal guidance. However, if an employer in Indiana chooses to provide a rest break, they must pay their employees for this time if the break is less than 20 minutes.

Indiana's break laws only mandate breaks for employees under the age of 18 who work six or more consecutive hours. These employees must receive one or two breaks totalling at least 30 minutes. This exception is in place to protect child labourers.

While Indiana employers are not legally required to offer meal or rest breaks, many choose to do so out of custom and policy. Employers recognise that employees who are hungry and tired are neither productive nor pleasant to customers and coworkers.

Employees are protected by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Indiana is one of the few US states that does not have specific provisions regarding break laws. While employers are not required to provide breaks, employees are protected by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The FLSA establishes the federal minimum wage, sets requirements for overtime, and places restrictions on child labor. It also defines the 40-hour workweek and requires equal pay for male and female workers for work requiring equal skill, effort, and responsibility. The Act also includes protections for state and local hospitals, educational institutions, and most federal employees.

The FLSA also sets out strict standards for determining, paying, and accruing compensatory or comp time—time given off work instead of cash payments. It establishes specific requirements for how and when employers must pay for overtime work. For example, covered, non-exempt workers are entitled to a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Overtime pay at a rate of not less than one and a half times the regular rate of pay is required after 40 hours of work in a workweek.

Additionally, the FLSA contains provisions designed to protect the educational opportunities of minors and prohibit their employment in jobs and under conditions detrimental to their health or well-being. For instance, employers must provide a child under 18 years of age with one or two rest breaks totaling at least 30 minutes if the child is scheduled to work at least six consecutive hours.

The FLSA also provides protections for breastfeeding employees, requiring employers to provide reasonable break time and a private space, other than a bathroom, for employees to express breast milk for up to one year after their child's birth.

While Indiana does not have specific break laws, employers who choose to provide breaks must comply with federal regulations. For example, if an employer offers a rest break of less than 20 minutes, it must be compensated. Similarly, if an employee is required to work through a meal break, that time must be paid.

Employees under 18 are entitled to breaks

Indiana is one of the few states in the US that does not have specific provisions regarding break laws. While employers are not mandated to provide breaks for their adult employees, they are protected by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

However, Indiana's Teen Break Law states that employees under the age of 18 who are scheduled to work six or more consecutive hours are entitled to breaks. Specifically, they must be given one or two rest breaks totalling at least 30 minutes. These breaks are to be provided between the third and fifth hour of work.

Indiana's break laws for minors are an exception to the state's general lack of break laws. This exception recognises the importance of breaks for younger workers and ensures they are not overworked. It is important to note that there may be additional regulations or contractual obligations that provide for mandatory breaks for certain categories of workers, such as airline pilots and truck drivers.

While not legally required to do so, many employers in Indiana choose to offer breaks to their employees, understanding the benefits of a well-rested workforce. When employers do provide breaks, certain rules apply. For example, breaks lasting less than 20 minutes must be compensated, while meal breaks of 30 minutes or more are not counted as time worked and are unpaid.

For further clarification on Indiana's break laws, it is recommended to refer to the Indiana Department of Labor or the relevant state and federal legislation.

Breastfeeding employees are entitled to breaks

Indiana is one of the US states that does not have specific provisions regarding break laws. While employers are not mandated to provide breaks, employees are protected by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Breastfeeding Breaks in Indiana

Breastfeeding employees in Indiana are entitled to breaks. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Protections to Pump at Work requires employers to provide reasonable break times for employees expressing breast milk for their nursing child. This protection covers employees for up to one year after the child's birth.

Additionally, according to Indiana Code § 22-2-14-2, employers with 25 or more employees should provide a private room, other than a bathroom, for nursing employees to express their breast milk. This private room should be equipped with a refrigerator or cold storage for storing expressed breast milk throughout the workday.

Furthermore, employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees for exercising their breastfeeding rights.

Indiana employers can offer breaks

Indiana is one of the few states in the US that does not have specific provisions regarding break laws. While federal law does not give employees the right to time off to eat lunch or take short breaks during the workday, Indiana employers can offer breaks. This means that while it is not mandatory for employers to provide breaks, they have the discretion to do so.

If an Indiana employer decides to provide rest breaks, they should be mindful that any breaks lasting less than 20 minutes must be compensated. Meal breaks that are 30 minutes or longer are not counted as time worked and are also not compensated. However, if an employee is working through their meal break, that time must be paid. For example, a receptionist who covers the phones or waits for deliveries during their lunch break must be paid for that time.

Indiana employers must also provide reasonable break time for employees who need to express breast milk for their nursing child. This is in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Protections to Pump at Work. Employees are eligible for a breastfeeding break for one year after the child's birth. Additionally, employers with 25 or more employees should provide a private room, other than a bathroom stall, for nursing employees to express their breast milk.

Indiana's Teen Break Law states that employees under the age of 18 who work for six or more consecutive hours must receive one or two breaks totalling 30 minutes. This is the only exception to Indiana break laws.

Frequently asked questions