You Are Legally Entitled To Sufficient Meal And Rest Break Periods
In the state of California, employees are entitled to sufficient meal, lunch and rest breaks that coincide with the number of hours worked and their employment status. When employees are deprived of these meal, lunch and rest breaks, their employers may be held liable and may be required to pay additional compensation for off-the-clock work and missed breaks. Employees are entitled under the Labor Code for one hour of extra pay each day where rest breaks are not provided, and an additional one hour of pay for each day where a meal break is not provided.
At The Rutten Law Firm, APC, in Woodland Hills, our experienced labor and employment law attorneys provide skilled representation to employees in the Woodland Hills area who have been deprived of meal and rest breaks in California. We can help you determine if your employer has been following relevant labor and employment laws — and if laws have been violated, we can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Mandatory Rest And Meal Breaks Under California Law
Most employees in California are entitled to an uninterrupted 30-minute meal break for every five hours they work. This meal break is counted as work time and must be free of any job duties. Employees are entitled to an additional one hour of pay for every day that a worker is denied a proper meal break. Employers cannot legally ask employees on their break to continue working or to split their break. Employees are also entitled to receive a 10-minute break for every four hours worked. Employees are entitled to an additional one hour of pay for every day that a rest break is not provided. Employees may be entitled to other penalties as well.
In addition, employers are required to keep adequate documentation of wage, hour and break information. If the employer does not have this documentation, the complaint of the employee is given much greater weight in a case of missed meal and rest breaks.
Did You Know?
Employees in sales, restaurant, hospitality and hotel industries, retail, computer-related fields, blue collar/manual labor jobs, etc., are frequently not provided with proper meal and rest breaks. We often represent clients who work for well-known, large employers across these industries.
Contact The Rutten Law Firm, APC, For Help
If you believe that your employer has failed to provide you with adequate meal and rest breaks, you are entitled to the protection of your employment rights. At The Rutten Law Firm, APC, we work with prospective clients and examine their employment history, their employer and any relevant records to determine what infractions have occurred and what course of action to take when labor laws are broken.
Contact us online or call 818-308-5945 for a free consultation and find out how we can help you get what you rightfully deserve. Our lawyers are committed to upholding your rights under state and federal labor laws.