Meal and Rest Periods

California law requires employers to provide meal periods and permit rest periods to employees. These mandates have raised myriad questions by employers when it comes to enforcing such policies and has resulted in a tidal wave of litigation. An employer’s obligation to “provide” a meal period is the subject of litigation before the California Supreme Court. Recent case law has further defined the extent of employers’ liability under Labor Code section 226.7 when employees fail to take meal and rest periods.

Cook Brown advises clients on appropriate meal and rest period policies, as well as record-keeping practices and procedures to avoid litigation. We represent employers when sued for missed meal or rest periods and successfully defend such claims brought on an individual or class-wide basis before both the Labor Commissioner and in state and federal court.