A paid 10-minute rest period for every four hours worked. A: According to state law, your employer cannot force you to work during any of your meal or rest breaks or even have you "on-call.If you have worked for at least 3.5 hours, you are entitled to a 10-minute rest break. Nonexempt California employees must be given a meal or lunch break for a minimum of 30 minutes for shifts longer than five 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. A: Meal break laws require employers to provide a 30-minute, duty-free meal time for employees who work a minimum of 5 consecutive hours. Under California Labor Code, employees who work more than five hours in a workday are entitled to a 30minute meal break. Employees are entitled to a meal break, or breaks, depending on how long they have worked that day. 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. This is the second post in my "Understanding California Meal Breaks" series.