When an employee works a ten hour shift, the employer is required to provide the employee with two 30 minute meal periods. 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.Employers must provide all employees a 10-minute rest break after the employee has worked at least 4 hours. 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. Under Labor Code 512, non-exempt employees who work more than 5 hours per day must receive a minimum meal break of 30 minutes. Employer and employees may agree to break down the 10 minutes of rest into smaller breaks, as long as they add up to 10 minutes during the 4-hour work period. Rest breaks — California employees who work 3.5 hours or more in a day are owed at least one paid, 10-minute rest break. 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. 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.