Los Angeles Meal and Rest Break Violation Lawyer
orking should never mean missing a meal. Yet, plenty of employers are more than willing to compel employees to forgo a meal, skip their break, or even work off the clock. If this happens to you, you need the help of a qualified Los Angeles meal and rest break violation lawyer that can get you results. Blackstone Law specializes in helping you with disputes over meal and rest break violations. We have litigated numerous cases for clients in their quest to hold their employers accountable for violating California labor laws.
In some instances, employers are unaware of the laws governing meals and rest breaks; in others, they are simply being sinister to get more work out of you. Either way, you deserve justice when your rights have been infringed upon this way. Meals and rest breaks are imperative to getting through your shift with your well-being intact. Skipping either or both can be detrimental to your physical and mental health, and cause you to be less productive than you might otherwise be. This is one of the reasons such laws were even implemented in the first place and why we advocate for your rights as an employee so stringently.
California Meal and Rest Requirements
California has employee-friendly wage and hour laws in place, ensuring that you are treated fairly in your work environment. State law requires all employees to get one unpaid 30-minute break for every five hours of work unless the total shift is six hours or less. The breaks must be 30 consecutive minutes and uninterrupted by compulsory work matters.
State law also notes that employers cannot encourage, request or compel you to start your break late or end it early. You are allowed to do whatever you want with your time, including leaving the premises.
If you work 10 hours or longer in one shift, you are allowed two 30-minute meal breaks unless the total shift is less than 12 hours. Employees are allowed to waive the second break if the first one was taken. Employers must pay for the break if you are required to work in any way or if you are forced to remain on the premises. Employees also get a 10-minute paid break for every four hours worked, and employers cannot force you to clock out for these smaller breaks.
Work with a Los Angeles Meal and Rest Break Violation Lawyer to Fight For Your Lost Time
We understand that deciding to hold your employer accountable for unlawfully denying meal and rest breaks can be a terrifying prospect. It helps to have a compassionate legal team on your side, educating you on the laws that govern meal and rest breaks in California and giving you an understanding of all your options. If your employer has caused you to lose out on meal and rest breaks in the workplace, you have the right to file a claim as a result.
Many people are too intimidated to take such action, and with good reason. Many companies have significant legal resources to fight these kinds of claims. This is especially true of large corporations that seem too big to pursue claims like this one. However, in this case, the law is on your side, and so are we. We are experienced in taking on companies large and small in our quest to advocate for employee rights. As a top Los Angeles meal and rest break violation law firm , we have a successful record of optimal outcomes for our clients.
We will conduct a thorough case review to determine how we might be able to help. Then, we can gather the proper documentation and help you move forward in filing a claim against your employer if you so desire. This will hold your employer accountable for their mistreatment of you and ensure that working conditions are safe for all employees moving forward.
Schedule a Free Consultation to Learn How Our Employment Attorneys Can Help You
Ethical employers know that you are at your best when you have time to eat during a work shift and take breaks to get fresh air, make personal calls or do whatever you need to so that you are prepared to be productive upon your return to work. Those employers who try to force employees to miss out on these critical opportunities run afoul of the law and set themselves up to experience reduced productivity throughout the workday.
Reach out to the knowledgeable employment law experts at Blackstone Law. We can help you determine the viability of your case and give you guidance on optimal next steps for your circumstances. Call us today at (310) 956-4054 or contact us online for a complimentary case review.