CALIFORNIA MEAL
BREAK LAWYERS

CALIFORNIA ATTORNEYS MEAL BREAKS

Mara has an ability to cut to the essence of things quickly. I have consulted with Mara several times over the last 9 years and he has provided me with legal advice that has been immensely valuable.” – Jonathan P.

California employers must provide their employees with a 30-minute uninterrupted meal break before the end of the fifth hour worked and a second uninterrupted 30-minute meal break before the end of the tenth hour worked. Whenever an employer fails to provide meal breaks in line with California law, it owes the employee an hour’s worth of pay at their regular rate.

If the employer does not do all of the following things, it has not provided a lawful meal break and the employee is owed the hours’ worth of pay for each workday it is not provided:

1. Relieves the employee of all duty during meal breaks;
2. Relinquishes control over the employee’s activities during meal breaks;
3. Permits the employee a reasonable opportunity to take uninterrupted 30-minute meal breaks; and
4. Does not impede or discourage the employee from taking 30-minute meal breaks.

Employers violate these clear standards all the time and in ways most wouldn’t even know to violate California law.

If you feel you have been denied lawful meal breaks, contact our office today for a free consultation and analysis, as there is likely a limited amount of time in which to bring your meal break claim. See the following references for more information on your rights to meal breaks in California: Code Section 512, Code Section 226, & Case Example.