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Illinois ODRISA (820 ILCS 140) requires one 20-minute meal period for any shift of 7.5 or more hours, to begin no later than five hours after the shift starts, with an additional 20-minute period for each additional 4.5-hour block; employers must also provide 24 consecutive hours off in each seven-day period. — Source: Illinois Department of Labor — ODRISA

Illinois break requirements

Illinois Meal Break Requirements

The One Day Rest in Seven Act (ODRISA, 820 ILCS 140) requires Illinois employers to provide at least one 20-minute meal period for shifts of 7.5 hours or more. Additional meal periods apply for longer shifts. There is no state requirement for paid rest breaks.

Scope: This calculator counts required meal periods based on hours worked. It does not determine whether actual breaks were compliant, whether exemptions apply, or whether a collective-bargaining agreement modifies these rules.

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The Illinois ODRISA break rules

ODRISA was amended effective January 1, 2023 to strengthen break protections. The key rules are: (1) A 20-minute meal period must be provided for any shift of 7.5 or more hours, to begin no later than five hours after the start of the shift. (2) An additional 20-minute break is required for each additional 4.5 consecutive hours beyond the first 7.5-hour period. (3) Separately, every employer must allow each employee at least 24 consecutive hours off in every seven-day workweek.

Break formula

Meal periods = 0 if shift ≤ 7.5 hrs = 1 if shift > 7.5 hrs + floor((hours − 7.5) ÷ 4.5) for each additional 4.5-hr block

Worked examples

Eight-hour shift

Shift = 8 hrs First meal period = 1 (shift > 7.5 hrs) Additional meals = floor((8 − 7.5) ÷ 4.5) = 0 Total meal periods required = 1

Twelve-hour shift

Shift = 12 hrs First meal period = 1 Additional meals = floor((12 − 7.5) ÷ 4.5) = floor(1.0) = 1 Total meal periods required = 2

No paid rest break requirement under Illinois state law

ODRISA does not require paid rest breaks (coffee breaks, stretch breaks, etc.). If an employer voluntarily provides short breaks of 20 minutes or fewer, federal FLSA generally requires those to be paid — but Illinois law does not independently mandate them. Employer policies and collective-bargaining agreements may provide more generous break rights.

What this does not determine

Sources and verification

Rules are drawn from 820 ILCS 140 (ODRISA), as amended effective January 1, 2023. Administered by the Illinois Department of Labor. No automatic premium-pay remedy exists under state law for a missed meal period; employees may file a complaint with IDOL.