Navigating California's Meal and Rest Break Requirements

Los Angeles partner Pascal Benyamini was quoted in an article published by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) titled “Navigating California's Meal and Rest Break Requirements,” about key points California employers should understand about meal and rest break compliance in the state. The article reviewed rest break basics, meal break essentials, on-duty meal periods, premium pay for missed breaks and compliance tips.

Commenting on rest breaks, Pascal said, “Many employers don't have a problem ensuring that employees get a net 10-minute break, but this could be an issue, for example, if it takes workers five minutes to get from their workstation to the breakroom … the rest period is supposed to begin when the employee is relieved of all duties.” Pascal urges employers to have up-to-date policies and train supervisors to apply the policies uniformly in compliance with the California Labor Code and applicable wage orders. Employers also should “ensure that employees are trained and that they follow the rules.”