In Kentucky, employers must allow employees to take a paid rest period for every four hours worked and an unpaid lunch break when they work over five hours. An employee might get two 15-minute breaks and one 30-minute lunch break in an 8-hour shift.
Overtime and Breaks for Longer Shifts
Employees are entitled to additional breaks for longer shifts. An employee working 8+ consecutive hours must get a 30-minute break and more 15-minute breaks every additional 4 hours. Breaks should fall in the middle of each work period.
Employers must pay 1.5 times normal wages when employees work over 40 hours in a week or over 8 hours in a day in Kentucky. Employees get overtime pay if working 7 days in a workweek in Kentucky.
Break Laws in Other States and Federal Regulations
California requires two 10-minute paid rest breaks for shifts over 3.5 hours, plus an unpaid 30-minute meal break for over 5 hours. A second meal break is required after 10 hours. Employees can waive the first meal break under 6 hours and the second under 12 hours.
Federal law does not require meal or rest breaks, but Kentucky and many states mandate breaks. The Fair Labor Standards Act states overtime applies after 40 hours in a 168-hour period.
Most states require employers to provide reasonable, unpaid break times for employees to use restrooms.