Under Missouri labor laws, employers are generally not required to provide rest or meal breaks to most employees. However, when breaks are offered, they are usually governed by employer policies or mutual agreements between the employee and employer.
This guide explains how Missouri break laws work, covering rest and meal breaks, breastfeeding breaks, and special protections for minor employees. It also covers the penalties employers may face for non-compliance with break laws.
Key Takeaways From Missouri Break Laws
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This Article Covers
- Rest Breaks in Missouri
- Meal Breaks in Missouri
- Breastfeeding Breaks in Missouri
- Breaks for Minor Employees in Missouri
- Penalties for Violating Break Laws in Missouri
Rest Breaks in Missouri
In Missouri, there aren’t any specific break laws mandating rest breaks for employees.
It is generally up to the employer whether they want to provide such breaks. These breaks can also be decided upon with mutual agreement between an employer and employee, or can be determined by company policies or contracts.
Meal Breaks in Missouri
Employers are not required to provide meal breaks to employees under Missouri break laws.
Whether such breaks are provided depends on the employer’s policies. Some employers and employees can also define meal breaks through a mutual agreement between the two parties.
Explore other salaried employee laws in Missouri.
Breastfeeding Breaks in Missouri
In Missouri, nursing employees covered by the federal FLSA receive reasonable break time to express milk for up to one year after the child’s birth, whenever required under the PUMP Act. Employers are required to provide them access to a private space, other than a bathroom, for expressing milk.
Under federal law, pumping breaks are usually unpaid. However, if an employee is required to do some work during the break, they must be paid.
Employees can also use other employer-provided paid breaks for breastfeeding. In such cases, they must be paid the same way as other employees who use those breaks.
Some airline, railroad, and motorcoach carrier employees are exempt from these FLSA protections. Missouri employers with fewer than 50 employees can also be exempt if providing the break time and private space could cause undue hardship to their business operations.
Breaks for Minor Employees in Missouri
Minors under the age of 16 who work in the entertainment industry are entitled to rest and meal breaks under the Missouri child labor laws. Employers must provide a 15-minute rest break after every two consecutive hours of work, and this break counts as work time.
In addition, these minor employees are entitled to a meal break when they work 5.5 hours in the entertainment industry.
Penalties for Violating Break Laws in Missouri
Employers are required to provide specific rest and meal breaks to minor employees under 16 working in the entertainment industry under Missouri child labor laws. If an employer fails to comply with these rules, employees can report a violation to the Missouri Division of Labor Standards.
FLSA-covered employers in Missouri must also respect a nursing employee’s right to breastfeeding breaks under federal law. If an employer denies these breaks or discriminates against an employee for taking them, the employee can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division or pursue legal action.
Employers found in violation can be ordered to reinstate or promote the employee, and pay lost wages and compensatory damages.
Important Cautionary Note
This content is provided for informational purposes only. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, we cannot guarantee that it is free of errors or omissions. Users are advised to independently verify any critical information and should not solely rely on the content provided.
