An additional 30-minute unpaid meal break when working more than 12 hours in a day. A paid 10-minute rest period for every four hours worked.You cannot employ someone for a work period of more than five hours without providing an unpaid, off-duty meal period of at least 30 minutes. An employee is entitled to a 30 minute meal period whenever he or she works a shift of more than five hours. Labor Commissioner's Office, Wages, breaks, retaliation and labor laws, 833-526-4636. An employer cannot employ someone for a work period of more than five hours without providing an unpaid, off-duty meal period of at least 30 minutes. California employment laws include a right to a 30 minute meal break after five consecutive hours of work. Under wage and hour law, non-exempt employees need to get a 30-minute lunch or meal break if they work beyond five hours in one day. If a nonexempt employee works more than five hours in a workday, California employers must provide at least a 30minute meal period. He or she is required to do so.