Failure to Provide Meal/Rest Periods

Failure to Provide Meal/Rest Periods in Los Angeles

California law not only requires that employees be paid the proper minimum wage and overtime compensation, but also ensures that employees are provided with meal and rest periods during the workday.

Meal Period Requirements

In California, an employer may not employ an employee for a work period of more than five hours per day without providing the employee with a meal period of not less than thirty minutes, except that if the total work period per day of the employee is no more than six hours, the meal period may be waived by mutual written consent of both the employer and employee. Employers often seek to avoid this requirement by forcing employees to eat lunch on the job and/or discouraging employees to take a meal period. This practice is a violation of California law and threatens the health and safety of employees in the workplace.

Rest Period Requirements

In California, the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders require that employers must authorize and permit nonexempt employees to take a rest period that must, insofar as practicable, be taken in the middle of each work period. The rest period is based on the total hours worked daily and at minimum must be ten consecutive minutes for each four hour work period, or major fraction thereof. Employers often schedule employees to work alone at the workplace and therefore make it impossible for employees to take rest periods during the workday.

If your employer has deprived you of appropriate meal and rest periods, you have the right to take legal action. However, filing such an action can be complicated and time consuming which is why it is crucial that you acquire legal assistance from a proven employment law firm.

The Law Offices of Jual F. Reyes has been known in California as defender of employees deprived of meal and rest periods. If you believe your rights have been violated, allow our firm to assist you to defend your rights. For legal consultation and initial case analysis, contact the Law Offices of Jual F. Reyes at our toll-free number, 877-242-4410.