Is It Legal For Your Boss To Deny You a Lunch Break In Michigan?

It's noon and your stomach is growling. You've been at work since 8am, so it seems like it should be time for a break for lunch. But if you live in Michigan, that may not be a guarantee.

I've only been living in Michigan since early 2022, so I'm constantly learning new laws about our state. I recently saw a post on facebook from a woman saying that her husband's boss wouldn't allow him to take a lunch break.

I immediately ran to the comments to comfort her and say that that isn't legal

via GIPHY

But, I wasn't the first to arrive to the party, and thankfully so because I would have been mistaken. It turns out, what her husband's boss is doing is entirely legal in Michigan.

Is your boss required to give you a 30 minute break in Michigan?

It turns out, Michigan is one of at least 15 states that does not require employers to give breaks to employees who are working.

According to Michigan state law, there is only one group of people who are legally required to get a break if they work 5 hours, and that's minors (people under the age of 18)

Otherwise, your lunch break is at the discretion of your employer, which feels insane to me. How can an employer expect people to be productive for 8 hours straight without stopping for food, no matter when their shift is?

That doesn't mean that your boss can't just be a decent human and give you a break (which they should) or that you may be in a union that makes sure you get that break. But you're also welcome to quit any job that doesn't give you that basic right.