Nevada: Meal and Rest Break Requirements

Required meals and paid rests

Under Nev. Rev. Stat. § 608.019(1), an employer may not keep a
covered employee working for eight continuous hours without permitting a meal
period of at least 30 minutes. A shorter pause does not interrupt that
continuous period.

Rest periods run on a separate schedule. § 608.019(2) requires 10 paid
minutes for each four hours or major fraction of four hours worked, with the
rest placed near the middle of the work period when practicable. Nev. Admin.
Code § 608.145 translates the formula into one rest for at least 3½ but less
than seven continuous hours, two for at least seven but less than 11, three for
at least 11 but less than 15, and four for at least 15 but less than 19. An
unpaid lunch is left out when calculating those hours.

The rest periods count as paid hours worked. A meal may be unpaid when it is
not work time, but Nev. Rev. Stat. § 608.016 requires wages for every hour
the employee works. An employee who must keep performing duties during lunch
therefore remains on paid time.

What trips people up

The rule has both automatic exclusions and case-specific exemptions.
§ 608.019(3) excludes a place of employment with only one employee and
employees covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Under subsection (4),
the Labor Commissioner may approve an employer's broader exemption request when
business necessity precludes providing the benefit.

Waiver is different from a Commissioner-approved exemption. NAC 608.145(3)
allows an employee to agree voluntarily to forego a meal or rest period, but
the employer bears the burden of proving that agreement.

Nevada's general text requires every employer to authorize rest periods for
"all" employees and does not draw an age distinction. A covered minor therefore
receives the same meal and rest periods as a covered adult.

Common questions

Does an eight-hour Nevada shift require a meal period?

Yes, for a covered employee. § 608.019(1) requires at least 30 minutes so
the employee is not kept at work for eight continuous hours without a meal.

How many paid rests are due on an eight-hour workday?

Two 10-minute rests under NAC 608.145(1)(b), because the employee works at
least seven but less than 11 continuous hours. An unpaid lunch is not counted
in that calculation.

What can the Labor Commissioner impose for a violation?

Under § 608.195, a violation may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor, and the
Labor Commissioner may impose an administrative penalty of up to $5,000 for
each violation.

Statutes and sources

• Nev. Rev. Stat. § 608.019(1)-(4). The current official statute supplies the meal
  and paid-rest rules, automatic exclusions, and business-necessity exemption.
  Official text
  (accessed July 12, 2026).
• Nev. Admin. Code § 608.145. The current official rule supplies the rest
  table, unpaid-lunch calculation, and voluntary-waiver standard.
  Official rule
  (accessed July 12, 2026).
• Nev. Rev. Stat. § 608.016 and § 608.195(1)-(2). The current official text
  requires pay for worked hours and states the criminal and administrative penalties.
  Hours worked and
  penalties
  (accessed July 12, 2026).
• Nevada Office of the Labor Commissioner, Meals and Rest Periods. The
  official bulletin summarizes the meal and paid-rest requirements.
  Official bulletin
  (accessed July 12, 2026).