Employees in California have specific protections that provide them with time to eat and rest during their work shifts. These meal and rest periods are compulsory, so employers will have to deal with fines if they don’t comply with them as required.
Anyone who’s working in this state should ensure they understand the requirements so they can speak up if their employer isn’t doing what they should. These are the guidelines for people in most industries, but there are some exceptions such as the motion picture industry and residential care facilities.
What breaks are required?
In California, employees must receive 10 minutes of paid break time for every four hours they work. They’re also required to receive a break if they work a major fraction of that four-hour period.
Meal periods are unpaid breaks of at least 30 minutes that are required if the employee works at least five hours in their shift. During this time, the employee must be fully relieved of all work-related duties. The employee must be paid if they have to do any work, including greeting customers or answering the phone, during the meal period.
If the employee works fewer than six hours, they can waive their meal period if the employer also agrees to the waiver. Employees who work at least 10 hours must have a second meal period, but they can waive one of the two if they work less than 12 hours.
Anyone who hasn’t gotten the break and meal periods that are required should explore their legal options. Working with someone who’s familiar with these matters may be beneficial because these cases can be complex.