California law requires that you take an uninterrupted, 30-minute meal break for any shift of five or more hours. And a 10-minute rest break for every four hours that you work is also required. You could have a meal or rest break claim if you have experienced any of the following:
- You have been unable to take meal or rest break;
- Your meal breaks are too short (less than 30 minutes);
- You are not free to leave work during your meal breaks;
- Your meal breaks happen too late (beyond the fourth hour of your shift);
- You worked a 12-hour or longer shift but had only one meal break (you're entitled to two meal breaks during longer shifts);
- Your employer has asked you to sign a “waiver” of either meal or rest breaks; or,
- As a mother with an infant, you have not been provided a reasonable amount of break time to express breast milk or been provided with a private location in which to express milk.
California’s meal and rest break law is strictly enforced. So you could have a claim if you believe you haven’t gotten all the breaks you are entitled to.