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What rest periods are required for California employees?

On Behalf of | Jan 29, 2025 | Employment Law

Employees in California have very specific rights that are much more comprehensive than what’s present in federal laws. One thing that California residents may not realize is that they’re required to have rest breaks when they’re working. 

Workers must be provided an unpaid 30-minute meal break if they work five hours or more in a day, as well as an additional one if they work more than 12 hours in that same day. These can sometimes be waived, but there are strict requirements for that. Rest periods in California must be provided on top of the mandatory meal periods that the state’s labor laws require.

Rest periods are mandatory 

Most workers must take a paid rest period of at least 10 consecutive minutes for every four hours or major fraction of that time they work. Rest periods must be given as close to the mid-point of the four hours they cover as possible, but deviation from that is sometimes possible.

State law specifically requires that a worker gets a rest period if they work at least three and a half hours for their shift. This means that if a worker works an eight-hour shift and has a lunch period, they would still be required to have two breaks of 10 minutes each. 

Workers who don’t receive the break periods they’re due can opt to pursue legal action against their employer. These cases can become complex, so it may be best for the employee to have someone on their side who’s familiar with the state’s labor laws. 

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