Unpaid Meal and Rest Breaks
Sate and federal laws protect the right of employees to work in a safe and humane setting. One important component of these laws is the right of workers to limited rest and break periods.
Protection for California Employees
If you are a California employee, you have certain rights to paid meal and rest breaks. In California, section 226.7 of the state labor code requires employers to provide each employee with paid meal and rest periods at specified intervals. If you are a "nonexempt" employee (anyone who is not a professional, executive or administrator), you should receive a one half hour meal break in each block of at least five hours worked, as well as a ten-minute break for every four-hour period.
If your employer has interfered with your right to paid meal and rest breaks, you may have a cause of action against your employer. Many employees throughout the U.S. have filed large class action lawsuits as well as individual lawsuits against employers for imposing harsh working conditions on employees.
If your employer has used intimidation, overly burdensome work schedules, or other inappropriate means to deny your right to paid meal and rest breaks, you may have legal ground for a civil lawsuit. To learn more about your rights, we encourage you to contact an attorney at one of our four law office locations.
Contact Us
Advantage Law Group has office locations strategically located throughout California to represent the legal needs of employees statewide. To speak with a lawyer at our office in San Diego, San Jose, Orange County, or the Bay Area, call us at (866) 406-3204, or contact us by e-mail.
