Washington State Lunch Break Law 2025 – What You Need to Know

Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers help workers in Washington when they’re being denied fair pay or other rights in the workplace. For most workers, lunch breaks provide time to recharge and step away from work. However, not every employer follows the law. If your employer is making you work through your lunch, they may be violating Washington labor laws. Our team can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.

What Are the Lunch Break Laws in Washington?

In Washington, most hourly workers have a legal right to a lunch or meal break. The guidelines start if you work:

• More than five hours in a shift.
  
  

If you do, you’re legally allowed a:

• 30-minute unpaid meal break that is free from work duties that starts between your second and fifth hour on your shift.
  
  

But that’s not all. Under certain conditions, your lunch break must be paid if:

• You have to stay on duty
• Your employer says you have to stay on-site and be available, even if you’re not actively working.
• You’re called back to work and that interrupts your break.
  
  

Employers who fail to provide these breaks may be violating Washington labor laws and could face penalties. If you believe your rights have been violated, speaking with our team can help you understand your options.

What Should You Do If Your Employer Won’t Give You Meal Breaks?

It might be pretty clear when your employer is violating your right to a meal break, but you’re still going to need to put together evidence for a potential claim. This means taking certain steps like:

• Keeping good records – Track your clock-in and clock-out times, when you take breaks, and whether you were required to work during them. Save your pay stubs as well.
  
  
• Talking to coworkers – If other coworkers have experienced the same issue, their statements can support your case. This might also be the starting point for a class action lawsuit.
  
  
• Reviewing company policies – If your employer’s meal break policies don’t follow state law, they may be used as evidence.
  
  

These steps are going to form the foundation of your potential claim when your employer won’t provide you with a meal break. But remember, filing a claim against your employer takes courage–even with the law on your side.

What Options Do You Have If Your Employer Doesn’t Give You Meal Breaks?

In Washington, you have the right to take meal breaks during your shift. If your employer denies you these breaks or forces you to work through them, they are violating state labor laws. When that happens, you have options to hold them accountable. Here’s what you can do:

• L&I Complaint – The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) enforces labor laws. If your employer has been denying you meal breaks, L&I can investigate and may require them to pay you for missed breaks, including back pay and penalties.
  
  
• Civil lawsuit – If L&I doesn’t resolve the issue or you’ve lost significant wages due to missed breaks, you can sue your employer in civil court. You may be able to recover:
  
  
  • Wages for the breaks you were denied
  • Back pay for lost earnings
  • Additional damages for labor law violations
  • Damages relating to any emotional distress
  • Attorney’s fees and court costs
    
    

• Class action lawsuit – If other employees at your job are also being denied meal breaks, you may be able to file a class action lawsuit together. This allows multiple workers to file a consolidated lawsuit against the employer, with any damages split among the participants.
  
  

In Washington, you typically have up to three years to file a claim for missed meal breaks. But again, the sooner you take action, the better your chances of recovering what you’re owed by your employer.

Contact Ferraro Vega If You’re Not Being Provided Lunch Breaks in Washington

Some meal break violations happen by mistake and can be resolved by speaking with your employer. But if they refuse to give you proper breaks or compensate you for missed ones, legal help can make a big difference. Our team at Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers can:

• Explain your rights and next steps
• Gather evidence to prove your employer violated the law
• Handle all communications with your employer
• Fight to recover the wages you’re owed
  
  

If your employer won’t fix the issue, we’re ready to take legal action on your behalf. You don’t have to deal with this alone–our Washington employment lawyers are here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation.