Under Labor Code 512, non-exempt employees who work more than 5 hours per day must receive a minimum meal break of 30 minutes. If you work at least 3.5 hours in a day, you are entitled to one rest break.If you work over 6 hours, you are entitled to a second rest break. The California Labor Code requires employers to provide non-exempt employees with a 30-minute, uninterrupted, and off-duty break for every 5 hours of work. Employers must provide a second meal break of no fewer than 30 minutes for all workdays on which an employee works more than 10 hours. California Labor Code 512 provides employees with a mandated 30minute meal break after five hours of work in one day. For more information on California minimum wage. You may not require an employee to work for a period of more than five hours per day without providing them with a 30-minute unpaid meal break. Under California Labor Code, employees who work more than five hours in a workday are entitled to a 30minute meal break. As a general rule, and insofar as practicable, the rest break must be in the middle of each four-hour work period.