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.
Does my employer have to give me two 15-minute breaks per day? MGL c. 149, § 100 requires a 30 minute lunch period during shifts longer than six hours, but does not require breaks.
CA law specifically requires lunch breaks for employees that work over five hours on the shift. However, an employee and employer must agree to a waiver of the lunch break.
There are no required breaks in an 8-hour shift in Virginia for adults over 18.
Although work breaks are not legally mandated in Virginia, employers who choose to offer such breaks must follow certain guidelines. If an employer's policy includes breaks that are under 20 minutes in duration, those breaks must be compensated.
Virginia Labor Laws Guide Virginia Labor Laws FAQ Virginia minimum wage$11 Virginia overtime laws 1.5 times the minimum wage for any time worked over 40 hours/week ($16.5 for minimum wage workers) Virginia break laws Meal break for minors under 16 — 30 min per 5 hours