HR Compliance

← Back to database

Maine Meal Break Requirements

active

Maine requires employers to provide a 30-minute meal break to employees who work 6 or more consecutive hours. The break must be provided as a consecutive rest period and may be unpaid if the employee is completely relieved of duties.

Jurisdiction
ME (state)
Law Type
Meal Breaks
Status
active
Citation
26 MRS § 601
Effective Date
2009-09-12
Last Verified
2026-01-15
Record Updated
2026-01-15

Applicability

Employee Types
non-exempt
Age Groups
adult, 16-17, 14-15

Requirements

Meal Period
Trigger Hours
6
Duration Minutes
30
Timing
Must be provided during shifts of 6 or more consecutive hours.
Duty Free
Yes
Paid
No
Description
A 30-minute consecutive rest break must be provided to employees who work 6 or more consecutive hours.
Exemptions
Description
Exemptions may apply in emergency situations or where only one employee is on duty and the employee is compensated for the break period.

Penalties

Employers who violate the meal break requirement may be subject to enforcement action by the Maine Department of Labor.

Notes

Maine's meal break law applies broadly across industries with limited exemptions. The 6-hour trigger is a common threshold among states with meal break laws.

Sources