Are unpaid breaks allowed in California?

Asked by simone54 (7642

) March 5th, 2013

I’m having trouble finding information on this so I’ll ask here.

I work in a restaurant in California. If I work more than six hours I am required to take an UNPAID half hour break. Are my employers really allowed to make me take an unpaid break?

EDIT: It is considered a “meal period”, does that change anything.

Labor laws

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4 Answers

Looks like that is correct.

The exception is if they require you to stay on premises then it should be paid. A company I worked for got snagged on something similar to this in TN and had to back pay a lot of people.

JLeslie (65903

)“Great Answer” (0

) Flag as…

Yes.

The only exception, like @JLeslie said, is when you are required to stay. For example, my husband used to work overnight maintenance in a department store. He was locked in the building for the entirety of his work period, and could not leave. His break time was paid.

Seek (34808

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