Oklahoma's meal and rest period law can be found in Title 40, Chapter 3 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The statutes
also provide break times for breastfeeding mothers to either breastfeed or express milk.
40 O.S. Sec. 75 - Hours Of Employment Of Children - Rest Periods.
A. No child under the age of sixteen (16) years shall be employed or permitted to work in any gainful occupation,
other than agriculture or domestic service, for more than:
1. Three (3) hours in any one (1) school day, except that if the employer is not covered by the Fair labor Standards
Act, a child may work eight (8) hours or less on a school day which precedes a nonschool day;
2. Eight (8) hours on a nonschool day;
3. Eighteen (18) hours in any one (1) week when school is in session; or
4. Forty (40) hours in any one (1) week when school is not in session except that if the employer is not covered
by the Fair Labor Standards Act, a child may work forty (40) hours in any one (1) week when school is in session
if attendance is not compulsory.
B. As used in this section, "in session" means the period beginning on the first Tuesday after Labor
Day through May 31 of the following year.
C. Children under the age of sixteen (16) years must be permitted a one (1) hour cumulative rest period for each
eight (8) consecutive hours worked. However, no such child shall work more than five (5) consecutive hours unless
permitted a one-half (1/2) hour cumulative rest period.
40 O.S. Sec. 77 - Schooling Certificates - Duties Of Employers.
Before any child under the age of sixteen (16) years shall be employed in any occupation specified in Section
71 of this title, it shall be the duty of the parent or guardian of such child to procure and furnish the employer
of such child an age and schooling certificate as hereinafter provided in this article. It shall be the duty of
every person, firm or corporation owning or operating any of the establishments specified in Section 71 of this
title, or employers in such occupation, to keep on file for the inspection of the Commissioner or his designee,
truant officers, or other persons charged with the administration of this article, such age and schooling certificate,
for every child under sixteen (16) years of age employed in such occupation, and to keep on file where such children
are employed a register with a complete list of children under sixteen (16) years of age so employed, together
with the age of each child as set forth in the age and schooling certificate opposite the name of such child, and
also to keep on file in such place or establishment, in such form as the Commissioner or his designee may prescribe,
the time of opening and closing of such factory or other establishment, the number of hours of labor required or
permitted in such establishment, the hours of commencing and stopping work, and the time allowed for meals, and,
if there be two or more shifts in such establishment, the number of hours in each shift during which the employees
are required or permitted to work. On termination of the employment of a child so registered, and whose certificate
is so filed, such certificate shall be forthwith surrendered by the employer to the child or its parent, guardian
or custodian; provided that this section shall not apply to the employment of children who are not residents of
the State of Oklahoma, to perform in any duly licensed theatre, motion picture theatre or other place of public
amusement.
BREAK TIME FOR BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS
Sec. 435. Breastfeeding rights; Break periods.
A. An employer may provide reasonable unpaid break time each day to an employee who needs to breast-feed or
express breast milk for her child to maintain milk supply and comfort. The break time, if possible, shall run concurrently
with any break time, paid or unpaid, already provided to the employee. An employer is not required to provide break
time under this section if to do so would create an undue hardship on the operations of the employer.
B. An employer may make a reasonable effort to provide a private, secure, and sanitary room or other location in
close proximity to the work area, other than a toilet stall, where an employee can express her milk or breast-feed
her child.
C. The Department of Health shall issue periodic reports on breast-feeding rates, complaints received, and benefits
reported by both working breast-feeding mothers and employers.
D. As used in this section:
1. "Employer" means a person engaged in business who has one or more employees, including the state
and any political subdivision of the state;
2. "Employee" means any person engaged in service to an employer in the business of the employer;
3. "Reasonable efforts" means any effort that would not impose an undue hardship on the operation of
the employer's business; and
4. "Undue hardship" means any action that requires significant difficulty or expense when considered
in relation to factors such as the size of the business, its financial resources, and the nature and structure
of its operation.