Editing Questions You Didn't Know to Ask (section)

=== Breaks ===
Is an employee required to take fifteen minute breaks or lunch? There is no federal labor law requiring breaks or lunch. Labor laws of this nature fall under state jurisdiction and since the USPS is part of the federal government it is not subject to state labor law. The employer however is still legally required to offer breaks and lunch per the regulation of OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a federal agency. Technically you are not required to take lunch or breaks, however, you are required to follow the instructions of your supervisor. OSHA can penalize the employer for an employee's failure to take an off-the-clock lunch.