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 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. Nonexempt employees are entitled to an unpaid meal or lunch break lasting a minimum of 30 minutes for shifts exceeding five hours. California labor and employment law provides that almost all workers have the right to rest breaks and at least one meal break during their workday. The rest period is based on the total hours worked daily and must be at the minimum rate of a net ten consecutive minutes for each four hour work period. If an employee works 10 hours in a day or more, the employer must provide two meal breaks of at least 30 minutes each. Under CA law, meal breaks are uninterrupted, unpaid 30minute breaks to which every employee is legally entitled. If you have worked less than 6 hours in a day, you can agree to forego your meal break. You can also agree to take your meal break while on duty.