Federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks.
In most states, breaks are required by law. The employer has to, by law, enforce that employees take those breaks. If they fail to do so, it opens them up to very expensive lawsuits. I recall a decade or two back, The Gap has a massive settlement in the state of California over employees working through breaks.
Neither Alabama nor federal law places limitations on the number of hours employees are permitted to work in a day or week. All employees who are at least 16 can work as many hours per day or week as they see fit. Paying Overtime: There are no overtime laws in Alabama, so employers are beholden to the federal laws.
The State of Alabama has no law regulating meal breaks or rest periods for adults. For employees aged 14 or 15, employers must give a 30-minute rest period when the employee works more than five hours continuously.
The only break regulations Maryland requires are for the retail industry. The Healthy Retail Employee Act requires retail establishments with 50 or more retail employees to provide the following breaks: 15-minute breaks for 4-6 consecutive hours of work. 30-minute breaks for 6-8 consecutive hours of work.
The State of Alabama has no law regulating meal breaks or rest periods for adults. For employees aged 14 or 15, employers must give a 30-minute rest period when the employee works more than five hours continuously. Ala. Code § 25-8-38.
Break laws by state StateRest breakMinor break Arkansas / Required for minors under 16 working in entertainment — the duration of the break is up to the employer. California A 10-min rest period for every 4 hours worked. Adult break regulations apply. Colorado A 10-min rest period for every 4 hours worked. / Connecticut / /47 more rows
For an 8-hour work shift, employees are entitled to a minimum 20-minute uninterrupted break if they work more than six hours. The break should not be taken at the beginning or end of the shift, and employees must be allowed to take it away from their workstation.
Break Requirements Per Hours Worked: Employee Works:Break Required: More than 4 but 6 or less consecutive hours None 4 to 6 consecutive hours 15 minute break More than 6 consecutive hours 30 minute break1 more row
Unless the worker is under 18 years old or is an employee who works in certain retail establishments, there is no law requiring an employer to provide breaks, including lunch breaks. Minors under 18 must receive a 30 minute break for every 5 hours of work.