Understanding Washington Break Law: Meal and Rest Break Rules by Shift
Jessica Packard
Last update on:
August 19, 2025 12:19 PM
Published on:
TL;DR
Washington State imposes strict rest break regulations on businesses to protect the health and safety of employees.
Businesses relying on manual and outdated management techniques are exposed to greater legal risks.
With a digital time tracking solution like Timeero, you can avoid non-compliance and keep your business safe.
Staying compliant with employee break requirements may require extra work, but it’s an important part of operating a successful business. In the state of Washington, employee break laws are especially strict and strongly enforced.
If you fail to understand and follow state break laws, you risk exposing yourself to penalties and fines, class-action lawsuits and in many instances you’re responsible for employee back pay.
If you’re based in Washington and are concerned about keeping your business legally safe, this guide is for you.
We’ll explore the nuances of Washington’s break laws, including shift length, compliance pitfalls, and how implementing a tech-driven solution like Timeero can protect your organization.
According to Washington law, WAC 296-126-092, employers are legally required to provide employees with uninterrupted meal and rest breaks.
Type of Break
How long is the break?
Work requirement
When should the break be given?
Pay status
Rest break
10 minutes
Must work at least 4 hours
As close to the middle of the shift as possible
Paid
Meal break
30 minutes
Must be scheduled to work more than 5 consecutive hours
No less than 2 hours, and no more than 5 hours from the start of the worker’s shift
Unpaid
But keep in mind, rest breaks are considered “hours worked” and must be paid, whereas meal breaks are unpaid, as long as the employee is completely relieved of all work duties and is free to leave the premises.
If an employee is required to stay on the premises, or fulfill their work obligations during a meal break, then that time must be paid.
Break requirements by shift length
Washington break law recognizes that employees work different shifts, which means break rules need to accommodate varying schedules.
Let’s look at the most popular shift lengths (8,10, and 12-hour), and the break rules for each.
Shift length
Rest break rules
Meal break rules
8 hours
Two paid 10-minute rest breaks
One rest break is given for every 4 hours worked.
Typically scheduled in the middle of each half of the shift.
If scheduled over 5 hours, one unpaid 30-minute meal break is required.
Must be scheduled between the 2nd and 5th hour of the shift.
10 hours
Two or three paid 10-minute rest breaks
One rest break is given for every 4 hours worked.
A third break may be given to prevent employees from working over 3 hours without a break.
Typically scheduled in the middle of each half of the shift.
One unpaid 30-minute meal break is required.
Must be scheduled between the 2nd and 5th hour of the shift.
12 hours
Three paid 10-minute rest breaks are given.
Employees take one 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked.
Typically taken in the middle of each 4-hour work period.
Two unpaid 30-minute meal breaks are given.
The first 30-minute break must be taken between the 1st and 5th hour of the shift.
The second 30-minute break must be taken at least 5 hours after the end of the first meal break.
What are the meal and rest break rules for an 8 hour shift in Washington?
During an 8-hour shift, your employee is entitled to:
Two paid 10-minute rest breaks, one given in the first 4-hour period, and one in the second.
One unpaid 30-minute meal break, which must be scheduled between the second and fifth hour of the shift.
What are the meal and rest break rules for a 10 hour shift in Washington?
Employees working 10-hour shifts are entitled to more frequent breaks, which include:
Two paid 10-minute rest breaks, one given during each 4-hour period.
Note: Depending on when the employee takes their mandatory meal break, you may be required to provide a third rest break. This ensures that the employee isn’t working more than 3 hours without a break.
One unpaid 30-minute meal break, scheduled between the second and fifth hour of the shift.
What are the meal and rest break rules for a 12 hour shift in Washington?
If your employees work 12-hour shifts, they’ll have even more rest break entitlements, which include:
Three paid 10-minute rest breaks, one given during each 4-hour period.
Two unpaid 30-minute meal breaks are given.
The first meal break should be scheduled between the first and fifth hour of the shift.
The second 30-minute meal break should be taken at least 5 hours from the time the first meal break ended.
What happens if breaks are missed or interrupted?
Washington law makes it clear that you have a duty to provide employees with the breaks they’re legally entitled to. If your workers miss their mandatory breaks or a break is interrupted, there could be severe consequences.
Compensation
If your worker’s 30-minute meal break is cut short for any reason and or if they perform work duties during this period, the entire break must be paid.
If an employee misses their break for any reason, you must compensate them for the missed break time as well as 30 minutes of additional penalty pay.
Legal consequences
Failure to comply with Washington’s break requirements can result in serious legal issues for your business, including:
Wage claims
Back pay
Civil penalties
Double damages
Class-action lawsuits
In any of these instances, it’s crucial to note the burden of proof always falls on the employer to show that the necessary breaks were provided. Because of this, accurate timekeeping isn’t just good practice – it’s a legal necessity.
How to stay compliant with Washington’s break laws – Best practices
No matter your business size, managing breaks can be a challenge. Adhering to a consistent break schedule can be difficult, especially if an unexpected work order comes up or a project mishap requires all hands on deck.
Even though you might be stressed and short on time, you are still legally required to provide your employees with meal and rest breaks.
To reduce the burden of break tracking that falls on your shoulders, here are 4 of the best practices you can implement today to stay compliant with Washington break laws.
1. Leverage automated time tracking
Outdated manual timekeeping systems, for example paper timesheets, manual spreadsheets, and self-reported tracking (“honor systems”) lack credibility and are easily disputed. Replacing these methods with automated time tracking software like Timeero will help you stay compliant with meal and rest break laws.
Timeero provides an intuitive way to not only track breaks, but also supports your managers in enforcing Washington’s break laws.
Create custom break rules and send break reminders via push notification.
2. Thoroughly train supervisors on break compliance
Your supervisors are the first point of reference for break compliance at your business. Because of this, you need to provide the training they need for a full understanding of break compliance.
Training should ensure thorough coverage of the specific break rules for shifts of different lengths. It should also explain the consequences your business faces if a break is missed or interrupted.
Supervisors and managers should be able to adequately enforce your company’s break policies in the event an employee was to voluntarily skip or decline a meal or rest break.
3. Schedule regular audits
Imagine you walk in on a Monday morning and your secretary slides a manila folder across your desk. You open it up, and it’s a lawsuit filed by a former employee claiming they weren’t provided with mandatory meal and rest breaks.
Without regular audits of timekeeping data, you might not know there was ever a problem until a complaint is filed or a lawsuit lands in your lap.
Carrying out quarterly audits of timekeeping data helps you prevent missed breaks from becoming a costly legal battle.
4. Stay up to date on industry-specific rules
Washington’s labor laws are more definitely more complex than other regions in the United States. But they become even more complicated when specific industries are asked to meet break reporting guidelines.
For example, in 2024, the state of Washington passed a law that requires hospitals to submit quarterly compliance reports to the Department of Labor & Industries, setting penalties for non-compliance.
Additionally, there are break rules which only apply to certain categories of employees, e.g., minors and commercial drivers.
Keeping up with legal changes associated with your specific industry will help you avoid non-compliance penalties that could have severe repercussions throughout your business.
Ensure Washington break compliance with Timeero
Tracking employee breaks across shifts in a state like Washington can be stressful.
But once you know the ins and outs of break law and implement an automated break management system, compliance doesn’t seem so scary.
Are you looking for a smarter way to manage employee breaks? Timeero makes break tracking and compliance simple. Start your free 14-day trial today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can employees voluntarily waive breaks in Washington?
Technically, employees and their employer can voluntarily agree on an exception to standard meal period rules by signing a meal break waiver. However, this waiver can be revoked at any time.
But employees can not waive their mandatory 10-minute paid rest breaks.
Do rest breaks count towards hours worked?
Yes, paid rest breaks are considered part of hours worked. Rest breaks must be included in daily and weekly totals for both regular pay and overtime calculations.
What if an employee refuses to take a break?
As an employer, it’s your legal obligation to provide every employee with meal and rest breaks. If an employee refuses to take a meal or rest break, you need a process in place to document the employees’ refusal to take their mandated breaks.
Are there different rules for healthcare workers, minors, or truckers?
Yes. Each of these industries have break rules in place to prevent burnout and protect employees’ health and safety.
Healthcare workers in Washington have specific protections, for example the right to 8 hours of consecutive rest after 12 hours of work. Employers need to submit a quarterly compliance report to L&I.
Minors under the age of 16 are entitled to one rest break for every 2 hours worked, and their total daily working hours are capped.
Commercial drivers in Washington can only be on duty for 11 consecutive hours, after which they must have at least 10 consecutive hours off-duty. Commercial drivers also can’t exceed 70 on-duty hours over 8 consecutive days.
Break tracking doesn’t have to be complicated.
Timeero offers a smarter way to track and manage employee breaks.
Jessica Packard is a B2B SaaS content strategist lead who helps companies turn SEO and content into real growth. With a mix of creativity and data-driven thinking, she builds strategies that drive traffic, generate leads, and make content a core part of the business.
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