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.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. For more information on California minimum wage. Under California Labor Code, employees who work more than five hours in a workday are entitled to a 30minute meal break. 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. California employment laws include a right to a 30 minute meal break after five consecutive hours of work. OLSE provides a free Advice Line for workers and businesses seeking information or assistance with labor standards compliance or workplace issues. The meal break must begin no later than 4 hours and 59 minutes into a nonexempt employee's shift. 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.