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 designed to help ensure employees are treated fairly in the workplace. Generally, employees who work more than five hours in a workday are entitled to an uninterrupted, duty-free 30-minute meal period, unless a valid waiver applies. The meal period must generally begin before the end of the employee’s fifth hour of work.
If an employee works more than 10 hours in a workday, they are generally entitled to a second 30-minute meal period. In certain circumstances, the second meal period may be waived by mutual consent of the employer and employee if the total hours worked do not exceed 12 hours and the first meal period was not waived.
California law also recognizes limited circumstances in which an employee may agree to an on-duty meal period when the nature of the work prevents the employee from being relieved of all duty. On-duty meal periods are subject to specific legal requirements and generally must be memorialized in a written agreement that can be revoked by the employee.
Employees are generally entitled to a paid 10-minute rest period for every four hours worked, or major fraction thereof. Employers may not require employees to work during their rest periods or clock out for these paid breaks.
If an employer fails to provide a compliant meal period or rest period, the employee may be entitled to premium pay. In many circumstances, California law requires employers to pay one additional hour of pay at the employee’s regular rate of compensation for each workday that a compliant meal period or rest period is not provided.
The information above is intended as a general overview and is not a complete statement of California meal and rest break laws. Numerous exceptions, waivers, industry-specific rules, collective bargaining agreements, and factual circumstances may affect an employee’s rights and an employer’s obligations. If you believe your meal or rest break rights have been violated, contact our office to discuss your specific situation and any applicable deadlines.
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.