Breaks, Nursing and Overtime Limits
26 M.R.S. § 601 — a 30 minute break after 6 hours, and no more than 80 hours of forced overtime in 2 weeks
Unless a union contract or other written agreement says otherwise, no employee works more than 6 consecutive hours without the chance to take at least 30 consecutive minutes of rest, except in an emergency. It may be an unpaid meal break only if the employee is completely relieved of duty.
Who handles this in Maine: Maine Department of Labor, Labor Standards; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Maine directory.
The break rule does not apply where fewer than 3 employees are on duty and the work allows frequent shorter paid breaks.
- No employer may require more than 80 hours of overtime in any 2 consecutive weeks, outside a declared emergency, essential public services and other exceptions.
- An employer gives break time, paid or unpaid, to express breast milk for up to 3 years after childbirth, and makes reasonable efforts to provide a private place other than a bathroom.
Sources for this section (3)
- 26 M.R.S. § 601 — Rest breaks
- 26 M.R.S. § 603 — Limits on mandatory overtime
- 26 M.R.S. § 604 — Nursing in the workplace
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maine attorney.