--- title: Colorado Meal & Rest Break Rules description: A 30-minute meal period when a shift exceeds 5 hours, and a paid 10-minute rest. --- [Skip to content](https://help.backofficenow.com/articles/colorado-meal-rest#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [More support](https://help.backofficenow.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [Partner portal](https://tickets.backofficenow.com/tickets-view?hsLang=en) [![Boss Primary Logo w-o Descriptor\_Gray on White](https://help.backofficenow.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos%20and%20Branding%20guide/Logos/Logos%20without%20descriptors/Primary%20Logos%20without%20descriptors/Boss%20Primary%20Logo%20w-o%20Descriptor_Gray%20on%20White.png?width=350&height=172&name=Boss%20Primary%20Logo%20w-o%20Descriptor_Gray%20on%20White.png)](https://www.backofficenow.com) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [More support](https://help.backofficenow.com/kb-tickets/new) - [Partner portal](https://tickets.backofficenow.com/tickets-view) - BOSS Home BOSS Home Hello! How can we help you today? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [BOSS knowledge base](https://help.backofficenow.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Compliance](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en) 3. [Colorado](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en#colorado) # Colorado Meal & Rest Break Rules ## A 30-minute meal period when a shift exceeds 5 hours, and a paid 10-minute rest. ## The rule COMPS Order 40, Rule 5.1, gives an uninterrupted, duty-free meal period of at least 30 minutes when a shift exceeds 5 consecutive hours. To the extent practical, it falls at least one hour after the start and one hour before the end. If the work makes an uninterrupted meal period impractical, the employee may take an on-duty meal and must be paid for that time. Rule 5.2 requires a compensated 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours of work, or a major fraction of that. A shift over 2 hours and up to 6 hours requires 1 rest period. A shift over 6 and up to 10 requires 2. ## What employers must do Relieve the employee of all duties for the meal period, or pay the on-duty meal. Count required rest periods as time worked. Do not deduct them from wages. ## Effective dates These are the rules in the adopted 2026 COMPS Order. No separate January 1, 2027 change to the 5-hour meal rule was in the sections reviewed. ## What this means for BOSS partners and associates BOSS is often the employer of record for the associate. Wage, break, leave, posting, and tax rules usually follow the state where the associate works. Tell BOSS that state before the assignment starts. Associates should record every hour worked on the timesheet. Do not promise a pay practice, a leave bank, or a posting the statute does not require. Questions? Contact BOSS Support at support@backofficenow.com. ## Sources - [CDLE COMPS Order 40 (2026)](https://cdle.colorado.gov/sites/cdle/files/adopted_2026_comps_order_%2340_7_ccr_1103-1_12.8.25.pdf) This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check with BOSS Support or your own counsel for your situation. - [Associates](https://help.backofficenow.com/associates?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Taxes](https://help.backofficenow.com/associates?hsLang=en#taxes) - [Onboarding](https://help.backofficenow.com/associates?hsLang=en#onboarding) - [Payroll](https://help.backofficenow.com/associates?hsLang=en#payroll) - [Worker's Comp](https://help.backofficenow.com/associates?hsLang=en#workers-comp) - [Timesheets](https://help.backofficenow.com/associates?hsLang=en#timesheets) - [Account](https://help.backofficenow.com/associates?hsLang=en#account) - [Getting Started](https://help.backofficenow.com/associates?hsLang=en#getting-started) - [Benefits](https://help.backofficenow.com/associates?hsLang=en#benefits) - [Partners](https://help.backofficenow.com/partners?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Workers' comp](https://help.backofficenow.com/partners?hsLang=en#workers-comp) - [Timesheets](https://help.backofficenow.com/partners?hsLang=en#timesheets) - [Onboarding](https://help.backofficenow.com/partners?hsLang=en#onboarding) - [Invoicing](https://help.backofficenow.com/partners?hsLang=en#invoicing) - [About BOSS](https://help.backofficenow.com/partners?hsLang=en#about-boss) - [Compliance](https://help.backofficenow.com/partners?hsLang=en#compliance) - [Clients](https://help.backofficenow.com/partners?hsLang=en#clients) - [Assignments](https://help.backofficenow.com/partners?hsLang=en#assignments) - [Money](https://help.backofficenow.com/partners?hsLang=en#money) - [Users and Settings](https://help.backofficenow.com/partners?hsLang=en#users-and-settings) - [Getting Started](https://help.backofficenow.com/partners?hsLang=en#getting-started) - [Account](https://help.backofficenow.com/partners?hsLang=en#account) - [General](https://help.backofficenow.com/general?hsLang=en) - [Compliance](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Texas](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en#texas) - [Colorado](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en#colorado) - [California](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en#california) - [Multi-State](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en#multi-state) - [New York](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en#new-york) - [Washington](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en#washington) - [Federal and General](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en#federal-and-general) - [Oregon](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en#oregon) - [Illinois](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en#illinois) - [Massachusetts](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en#massachusetts) - [New Jersey](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en#new-jersey) - [Pennsylvania](https://help.backofficenow.com/compliance?hsLang=en#pennsylvania) - [Clients](https://help.backofficenow.com/clients?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Documents](https://help.backofficenow.com/clients?hsLang=en#documents) - [Invoices](https://help.backofficenow.com/clients?hsLang=en#invoices) - [Timesheets](https://help.backofficenow.com/clients?hsLang=en#timesheets) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://help.backofficenow.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos%20and%20Branding%20guide/Logos/Logos%20with%20descriptors/Primary%20logos%20with%20descriptors/Boss%20Primary%20Logo_Gray%20on%20White.png?width=250&height=123&name=Boss%20Primary%20Logo_Gray%20on%20White.png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://www.backofficenow.com) 855-508-2677 option 1 Copyright © 2026-20029, Back Office Staffing Solutions