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. If you work over 5 hours in a day, you are entitled to a meal break of at least 30 minutes that must start before the end of the fifth hour of your shift.Nonexempt California employees must be given a meal or lunch break for a minimum of 30 minutes for shifts longer than five hours. In California your first meal period should be the 5th hour. Say you work from 12pm-pm, with a unpaid 30 minute lunch. 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. Workers have a right to at least a 30minute meal break or each 6 hours worked in a calendar day. Under California law, non-exempt employees are entitled to one unpaid 30-minute meal break, and two paid 10-minute rest breaks, during a typical 8-hour shift. The law in California states that someone can work up to 6 hours with no lunch break.