Generally speaking, yes an employer may require that their employees take breaks, even if they are not required to provide them under the law; there is nothing in the law that would prevent them from doing so.
Employers in New York State must provide all employees time off for meals, after working a certain number of hours. In general, employers must provide at least 30 minutes of unpaid time off if an employee works more than 6 hours.
Is There a Limit on Working Hours in New York? The New York State Department of Labor does not limit the number of hours employees can work per day. This means employers may legally ask their employees to work shifts of eight, ten, twelve, or more hours each day.
New York requires that employers provide employees meal periods as follows: Employees are entitled to a 30-minute break between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for shifts that cover that time span and are more than 6 consecutive hours.
The 7-minute rule in New York State refers to how employers round time when calculating work hours. Employers may round an employee's time to the nearest 15-minute interval.
Meal breaks lasting 30 minutes or longer can be unpaid, so long as employees don't work during that time. Employers are not required to give rest breaks. Employees who work between 6 and 8 hours are entitled to a 20-minute meal break. Employees who work for 8 or more hours are entitled to a 30-minute break.
Under Ohio law, there is no requirement for an employer to provide a meal period or rest break to its adult employees age 18 or older. Instead, employers must adhere to the requirements of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which also does not require employers to offer employees a meal or rest break.
All California working stiffs get a thirty (30) minutes lunch period before the end of the fifth hour in an eight (8) hour workday. No more, no less. And rules are a bit different for federal employees, however, we stick by our 30-minute lunch.
By law, you employer cannot schedule you to work for eight hours, without giving you a meals break.