Rest Breaks and Meal Breaks

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California law provides most employees with the right to have an unpaid 30-minute meal period if they work more than 5 hours, and the right to have at least one paid ten-minute rest break if they work at least 3.5 hours in a day, and a second paid ten-minute break if they work at least 6 hours. If you have more questions, or want to learn more, please read the below factsheet or reach out to our workers’ rights clinics.

1. Does my employer have to provide me a meal break?

2. Does my employer have to give me rest breaks during work?

3. Does my employer have to pay me for my meal periods or rest breaks?

4. Can I be required to stay on premises, on call, or on duty during a meal period?

5. Can I be required to stay on premises, on call, or on duty during a rest break?

6. What happens if my employer does not provide me with a legally compliant meal period or a rest break?

7. Does my employer have to keep track of whether I took a meal period?

8. Does my employer have to make sure I don’t work during my meal period?