Compliance Program • LC § 226.7 & § 512

Meal & Rest Breaks

California enforces mandatory meal break timing (before the 5th hour) and paid 10-minute rest periods. Failure to provide compliant breaks triggers 1 hour of premium pay per violation under Labor Code § 226.7.

Comprehensive California wage-and-hour compliance: meal & rest break timing, overtime calculation, employee classification, pay transparency (SB 1162), and itemized wage statements (Labor Code § 226).

Governing LawCal. Lab. Code §§ 200-558, IWC Orders 1-17

Applies ToAll CA employers

RecurrenceOngoing / Daily Operations

Meal & Rest Period Mandates

Meal Break Requirements (LC § 512)

30-minute uninterrupted off-duty meal period timing and waiver rules.

Meal & Rest Period Policy & Attestation Form
Overtime & Double Time Calculation Worksheet
Exempt vs. Non-Exempt ABC Classification Checklist
SB 1162 Pay Scale Disclosure Template for Job Postings
+ 1 more

Rest Breaks & Premium Pay (LC § 226.7)

10-minute paid rest periods and statutory premium pay calculations.

Paid 10-minute rest period for every 4 hours worked (or major fraction thereof)
Rest breaks must be scheduled insofar as practicable in the middle of each work period
Employers must provide suitable rest facilities and relief from active duty
1 hour of premium pay for any missed, short, or interrupted rest period
+ 1 more

Interactive Risk Calculator

Break Compliance Risk & Penalty Exposure Calculator

Calculate potential PAGA penalty exposure and premium pay liability resulting from meal and rest break compliance gaps.

Tell Us About Your Team

Employee Headcount15 staff members

All shift/hourly and classified W-2 staff over the past year

Pay Period Frequency

26 pay periods / yr — penalties are calculated per aggrieved employee, per pay period

How Often Do These Happen?

Rough estimates are fine — most owners land these within a pay period or two of accuracy.

Meal & Rest Break Issues3 out of 10 pay periods

Breaks missed, shortened, taken late (after hour 5), or not documented

Paystub Detail Gaps2 out of 10 pay periods

Missing itemized rates, pay period dates, business name, or overtime breakdown

Off-the-Clock / Unpaid Overtime1 out of 10 pay periods

Pre-shift setup, post-shift closing, or rounding errors that go unrecorded

Estimated PAGA Exposure

$42,620

A rough estimate — not a bill or a prediction

Statutory PAGA Penalties$22,500

Unpaid Wage & Break Premiums$20,120

Show your work: 15 employees × an estimated 8 affected pay periods × $100 (first) / $200 (each after) per employee = statutory penalties. Wage premiums are added separately for missed breaks and unpaid overtime.

Totally optional — the numbers above are yours to keep either way.

Verify This Yourself

Don't take my word for it — here's where this information actually comes from.

Cal. Lab. Code § 512 — Statutory Meal Period Text

California Legislative Information

Cal. Lab. Code § 226.7 — Premium Pay Standard Text

California Legislative Information

DIR DLSE Meal & Rest Period Enforcement FAQ

California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)

Need Break Attestation Templates?

Deploy written meal break waivers, electronic break attestation logs, and supervisor enforcement SOPs to eliminate break liability.

Access Compliance Quiz

This site's content is developed with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy against current statutory and regulatory sources; it is not a substitute for legal advice from a licensed attorney. Laws referenced here change — verify current requirements before relying on any specific figure, deadline, or requirement stated here.