Employee Rights & Meal Breaks - A Matern Law Group Attorney Explains

In most cases, California law requires that hourly employees be provided an uninterrupted 30 minute meal break if they work more than 5 hours. Employees are entitled to a second meal break if they work more than 10 hours.


Though there are exceptions, these meal breaks generally need to meet certain requirements including: employees must be relieved of all duty for the duration of the break, and employees must be permitted to leave the work site during the meal period.


In addition to meal breaks, hourly employees must be authorized and permitted to take rest breaks. Employees are entitled to an uninterrupted 10 minute rest break if they work more than 3 1/2 hours. Employees are also entitled to a second 10 minute rest break if they work more than 6 hours, and a third break if they work more than 10 hours.


Although rest breaks are paid, the employee must be allowed to use this time for his or her own purposes.


If you have not been provided all of your meal and rest breaks, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact us online or give us a call.