Time Breaks

15 minute break for 4-6 consecutive hours or a 30 minute break for more than 6 consecutive hours. If an employee works 8 or more consecutive hours, the employer must provide a 30-minute break and an additional 15 minute break for every additional 4 consecutive hours worked.

What is a rest break? California requires employers to provide employees ten-minute rest breaks for every four hours (or major fraction) worked. Anything over two hours is a major fraction of a four-hour period.

The legal break times for an 8-hour shift is a minimum of 20 minutes. This is because the Working Time Regulations 1998 establish 3 types of rest break: Rest breaks at work. Daily rest.

Under California law, non-exempt employees are entitled to one unpaid 30-minute meal break, and two paid 10-minute rest breaks, during a typical 8-hour shift. Employees must receive their off-duty meal breaks before the end of the fifth hour of work.

Under California law, non-exempt employees are entitled to one unpaid 30-minute meal break, and two paid 10-minute rest breaks, during a typical 8-hour shift. Employees must receive their off-duty meal breaks before the end of the fifth hour of work.

Employers must authorize and permit uninterrupted rest breaks for all nonexempt employees whose total daily work time is at least 3.5 hours. These mandatory rest breaks must be offered at the rate of 10 minutes for every four hours worked, or "major fraction" thereof.

If you work over 6 hours, you are entitled to a second rest break. If you work over 10 hours, you are entitled to a third rest break. Rest breaks must to the extent possible be in the middle of each work period. If you work 8 hours or so, you should have a separate rest break both before and after your meal break.

Meal Break Obligations In California. You cannot employ someone for a work period of more than five hours without providing an unpaid, off-duty meal period of at least 30 minutes. The first meal period must be provided no later than the end of the employee's fifth hour of work.

The California Labor Code provides that employees who work more than five (5) hours in a day are entitled to a thirty (30) minute meal break. However, if the employee is working no more than six (6) hours in a day, the employee may waive their meal break.