If your employer denied you meal breaks or rest periods in Los Angeles, you could be owed thousands in penalties. At Kingsley & Szamet Employment Lawyers, we've recovered $300 million in settlements and verdicts across 29 years of practice. We handle meal and rest break cases on contingency, no fee unless we win, and offer free consultations with fast case evaluations throughout Los Angeles County.
California's break laws are stricter than federal standards, and violations trigger automatic penalties. When employers ignore these requirements, we hold them accountable.
Need legal help with a meal or rest break violation? Reach out to Kingsley Szamet Employment Lawyers online or by calling (818) 990-8300 to set up a free, initial consultation with our team.
Real Case Results from Meal and Rest Break Claims
We've recovered substantial settlements for workers throughout Los Angeles County whose employers violated break laws. Some of the victims we have helped recover compensation for have included:
- $8.5 million against an employer that denied meal and rest breaks across multiple locations. The case involved violations affecting hundreds of workers who rarely received compliant breaks.
- $7.2 million for cable installers denied state-mandated meal breaks, rest breaks, and expense reimbursement. The national company routinely scheduled workers for 10-hour days with minimal or no break time.
- $6.5 million against a national retail chain for denying meal and rest breaks and owing unpaid wages. Workers were told to eat while working and received automatic meal deductions they never actually took.
- $5.5 million against a national video store chain that denied legally mandated meal and rest breaks to employees across California locations.
- $4.25 million for motel workers denied meal and rest breaks while also being charged check cashing fees. The violations affected housekeepers, front desk staff, and maintenance workers.
- $4 million recovered in two separate cases, one against a national restaurant chain and another against a national Italian restaurant chain, both for denial of breaks to servers and kitchen staff.
What Are California Meal & Rest Breaks Laws?
California law mandates specific meal and rest breaks to protect workers' rights and prevent exploitation in the workplace. Understanding these regulations is essential for both employers seeking compliance and employees whose rights may have been violated through systematic break violations.
Meal Breaks
California law regarding meal breaks is explained by the California Department of Industrial Relations. Under California law, as an employee, you are entitled to a 30-minute break when you work more than five hours. This meal break is unpaid. During your break, you are not to be engaged in any work duties and you are also allowed to leave the workplace premises. These meal breaks should occur within the first five hours of your workday. You are given the right to waive it if you wish to but only when your shift does not exceed six hours. In shifts that exceed 10 hours, you must be provided with a second meal break. It is the responsibility of your employer to ensure that your meal breaks occur during these five-hour increments.
Should you be denied meal breaks according to the law, you are entitled to be reimbursed for every meal break missed along with an additional hour of pay at your regular pay rate. Each time you are denied a meal break will count as a separate violation of this law. Also, if you are expected to clock out for your meal break but must continue working, you may wind up having worked more than 40 hours in the week. This would qualify you for overtime pay at time and a half plus the additional payments to which you are entitled to for having missed your meal break.
Rest Breaks
The California Department of Industrial Relations also provides an explanation of how rest periods are covered under our state's labor laws. As an employee, you are entitled to a 10-minute rest break for every four hours that you work. Unlike meal breaks, your rest period is a paid break. The state would like this rest break to be taken in the middle of the four hours as much as practicable. Those who work an eight-hour shift are thus entitled to two 10-minute rest periods during their workday. If you are denied your required rest periods, the penalty to your employer is reimbursement of one hour of pay for every day that the denial occurs.
Under the law, you are not required to take a rest period if you choose not to. Your employer's obligation is only that these breaks be provided; otherwise, the employer has no responsibility to enforce them. Because of this, it can be difficult to prove in court that you were denied a rest period. However, employers should make it clear that rest periods are allowable and available according to the law.
Why Choose Kingsley & Szamet Employment Lawyers
Our Los Angeles employment law firm focuses exclusively on employment law, representing workers against companies of all sizes throughout Los Angeles County. This focus matters because employment law evolves constantly with regulatory changes and new case decisions. We stay current because this work is all we do.
We've recovered over $300 million in settlements and verdicts across nearly three decades. Our firm has helped a number of victims with their meal and rest break violations to receive fair compensation and protect their rights.
Beyond results, clients value our communication and accessibility. Attorney Eric Kingsley and our team handle each case with the care it deserves. We respond quickly to questions and keep you informed throughout the process.
What Our Clients Say
Below are some of our many positive reviews from clients we have helped with their Los Angeles employment claim. We hope to count you among our future success stories.
Angel Esquivel: "I can't recommend Kingsley & Szamet highly enough! From the start, they took care of everything, making the entire legal process stress-free for me. I was worried because I didn't have access to many documents from my former employer, but the team assured me they could work with what I had, and they did. Their expertise and persistence led to a successful settlement, and I barely had to lift a finger."
William Gibbs: "This employment law firm was amazing. Kelsey, one of the firm partners, was attentive and genuine in everything I needed. She was always completely transparent about what was going on with my case and worked diligently to get it resolved as quickly as possible. Her communication throughout the process was superb! She treated me like a person and not just a client."
Keith Gariepy: "I had a very positive experience with Kingsley Szamet Employment Lawyers. The team is professional, responsive, and truly cares about their clients. They explained everything clearly, guided me through the process, and achieved a great outcome."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my employer require me to stay on the premises during meal breaks?
No, employers cannot require you to remain on premises during off-duty meal breaks unless you agree in writing to an on-duty meal period, which only applies in limited situations.
What if my whole team is being denied breaks?
Contact an attorney about a class action, which can cover all affected workers and create stronger leverage for settlement.
Can I get fired for taking my legally required breaks?
No, employers cannot discipline or terminate you for taking legally mandated breaks; doing so constitutes retaliation and wrongful termination.
What if I signed a waiver saying I don't get breaks?
Meal period waivers are only valid under specific conditions; most employer "waivers" don't meet legal requirements and can't eliminate your break rights.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Los Angeles Meal & Rest Break Lawyer
If you believe you have been denied meal and/or rest breaks, you should seek the help of our established and reputable firm for help. Our team has substantial experience in state and federal labor laws and has a proven track record as litigators in court. We represent workers facing meal and rest break violations across Los Angeles and surrounding communities including Long Beach, Pasadena, Glendale, Santa Monica, Burbank, Torrance, and throughout LA County.
Using an employment lawyer after an employer violation is one of the best steps you can take to secure compensation. Contact Kingsley & Szamet Employment Lawyers today for a free consultation. We'll evaluate your case, explain your options, and give you honest advice about whether you have a claim. No pressure, no fees unless we recover compensation. We respond quickly and handle cases throughout Los Angeles County on contingency.
Contact us online or at (818) 990-8300 for legal assistance with your case today.
Kingsley Szamet Employment Lawyers
16133 Ventura Blvd #1200
Encino, CA 91436
(818) 572-4143
