Under Labor Code 512, non-exempt employees who work more than 5 hours per day must receive a minimum meal break of 30 minutes. Wages, breaks, retaliation and labor laws, 833-526-4636.Division of Workers' Compensation, Benefits for work-related injuries and illnesses, 1-800-736-7401. The California Labor Code requires employers to provide non-exempt employees with a 30-minute, uninterrupted, and off-duty break for every 5 hours of work. Employers must authorize and permit uninterrupted rest breaks for all nonexempt employees whose total daily work time is at least 3.5 hours. If you work over 10 hours, you are entitled to a third rest break. Rest breaks must to the extent possible be in the middle of each work period. California Labor Code 512 provides employees with a mandated 30minute meal break after five hours of work in one day. Under California Labor Code, employees who work more than five hours in a workday are entitled to a 30minute meal break. Employees whose total work time inside a workday is less than three and a half hours are not required to have a break.