Believe it or not, employers in many states have no legal obligation to give their employees any breaks during the work day. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require employers to provide any breaks, and many states follow the same rule. Other states require employers to provide rest breaks, meal breaks, or both.
A small number of states require employers to provide paid rest breaks during the work day.
In Tennessee, employees who are scheduled to work a shift of at least six hours are entitled to a 30-minute meal break, unpaid. The employer may not schedule this break during the employee's first hour of work. Employers don't have to provide meal breaks if the nature of the work allows for frequent breaks throughout the work day.
Certain tipped employees may voluntarily waive their right to take a meal break.
Tennessee law does not require employers to provide rest breaks. If your employer chooses to let employees take rest breaks, it must pay you for breaks that last for 20 minutes or less.