Understanding meal and rest breaks in California
An overview of when non-exempt employees in California are generally entitled to meal and rest breaks.
California gives most non-exempt employees the right to meal and rest breaks. The details depend on your hours, your industry and any applicable wage order, so treat this as a general overview rather than legal advice.
Rest breaks
Rest breaks are generally paid, uninterrupted, and based on the number of hours worked.
Meal breaks
Meal breaks are generally unpaid and must be duty-free. If an employer requires you to stay on call or keep working, the break may not count.
When breaks are missed
If breaks are routinely missed, cut short or interrupted, additional pay may be owed. Keep your own record of the breaks you actually received.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. This article has not yet been reviewed by an attorney.
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