Oregon Rest Break Requirements
activeOregon requires employers to provide a paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked, or major fraction thereof. Rest breaks must be continuous and uninterrupted, and should be scheduled approximately in the middle of each 4-hour work segment. Rest breaks are compensated as time worked.
Applicability
Requirements
- Rest Break Duration Minutes
- 10
- Hours Worked Per Break
- 4
- Major Fraction Applies
- Yes
- Major Fraction Definition
- A 'major fraction' of 4 hours is any period greater than 2 hours. An employee working more than 6 hours is entitled to 2 rest breaks.
- Paid
- Yes
- Continuous And Uninterrupted
- Yes
- Timing
- Rest breaks must be scheduled approximately in the middle of each 4-hour work segment.
- Break Schedule Examples
- 2 To 6 Hour Shift
- 1
- 6 To 10 Hour Shift
- 2
- 10 To 14 Hour Shift
- 3
- 14 To 18 Hour Shift
- 4
- Cannot Be Waived
- Yes
- Cannot Be Combined With Meal Break
- Yes
- Cannot Be Used To Shorten Shift
- Yes
- Employer Must Provide
- Yes
- Note
- Rest breaks must be continuous and uninterrupted. An employer cannot split a 10-minute rest break into two 5-minute periods. The break must be taken approximately in the middle of each work segment to provide meaningful rest.
Penalties
Failure to provide required rest breaks may result in the employer owing compensation for missed breaks and potential civil penalties from the Bureau of Labor and Industries.
Statute of limitations: 2 years
Notes
Oregon's requirement that rest breaks be continuous and approximately in the middle of each 4-hour segment is more prescriptive than many states. BOLI has emphasized that employers must actively schedule and authorize rest breaks, not merely refrain from prohibiting them. The major fraction rule means employees who work slightly over a 4-hour multiple receive an additional rest break.