As an employee protected by California law, you’re entitled to rest and meal breaks while on the clock. If an employer tries to make you stay on call during your rest periods or denies you access to meals, you can take legal action. Our Bakersfield rest and meal break violation lawyers want to work with you.
The legal team at Moon Law Group specializes in employment law. We understand how California’s employment laws work and can break down your rights in clear, accessible terms. Our support can help you fight back in the face of employer abuse and secure damages to compensate you for prolonged periods of mistreatment.
Our Bakersfield wage and hour violations lawyers have proudly served California’s employees since 2007. Contact us today to learn more about our experience and the work we can do for you.
What Are California’s Rest and Meal Break Laws?
Experienced Bakersfield employment lawyers stay on top of developments in California law, ensuring that they can cite appropriate labor codes when advocating for abused workers. Per California Labor Code §§ 512 and 226.7, employees have the right to step away from work and eat off the clock.
Specifically, California law entitles employees to a 30-minute unpaid meal break when they work for more than five hours. Employees who work for more than ten hours have the right to a second 30-minute break. Employers do not have the right to coerce employees to work through these breaks or otherwise deny them time to eat.
In a similar vein, any employee who works for more than 3.5 hours at a time has the right to a paid 10-minute break under California law.
Failure to provide an employee with these breaks can result in the employer owing the employee up to one hour of premium pay per type of violation per day, regardless of whether the employee knew they were entitled to these breaks.
For a free legal consultation with a rest and meal break denials lawyer serving Bakersfield, call 213-232-3128
Should You Contact a Bakersfield Rest and Meal Break Violation Lawyer?
If you’ve felt pressured to work through your state-mandated breaks, or if an employer refuses to recognize your right to a break, you have the right to assert employer abuse. You can immediately contact a Bakersfield rest and meal break violation attorney to discuss your right to recourse.
Help from a lawyer can make it easier for mistreated employees to counter employers’ attempts to misrepresent their break policies. Our team knows how to combat altered time records or underreported hours. You can count on us to thoroughly investigate your claims of break and meal violations.
We can work with you to address unique instances of mistreatment or company-wide break violations. If you and your fellow employees are the victims of prolonged, systematic mistreatment, we can pursue a class action on your collective behalf.
Bakersfield Rest And Meal Break Denials Lawyer Near Me 213-232-3128
What Are Common Shift Violations in California?
Employers do not have the right to prevent you from taking a break while under their care, so long as you qualify for a lawful break. Any employer who requires you to remain on-call while taking a break may face accusations of violating the state’s rest and meal break laws.
Employers who deliberately schedule shifts that don’t account for reasonable breaks or penalize employees who do take breaks stand in violation of the law. Every California employer must make a reasonable effort to ensure that employee workloads allow those employees to step away for mandated breaks.
These expectations only vary for unionized employees, who may have a different meal and break structure than the one approved by the state, and certain salaried employees. Likewise, employees in unique occupations, including truck drivers, will have different schedules better suited to fit the demands of their jobs.
Do Independent Contractors Benefit From Rest and Meal Breaks?
The rules that apply to independent contractors differ from those that apply to employees. Independent contractors view corporations and other California entities as clients. As such, independent contractors don’t receive the same protections as employees.
Unfortunately, California businesses may misrepresent their workers to deny them breaks, meals, or other benefits. If you think your employer may have misclassified you, you can push back and pursue compensation for your mistreatment.
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How Can You Challenge Rest and Meal Break Violations?
If you turn to our rest and meal break violation attorneys serving Bakersfield for legal support, you can count on us to help you complete a complaint, going into detail about your mistreatment. We can then submit your complaint to the California Labor Commissioner and preserve your right to follow through with a lawsuit for compensation.
If you want to work with your fellow employees to file a class action lawsuit against your employer, we can help you complete the necessary paperwork, select a primary representative, and submit your case for consideration. We can ensure that your claim complies with the law and that you have the data needed to back your case up.
This support may make it possible for you and your peers to recover premium pay in addition to compensation for unpaid wages. California’s labor laws may also entitle you to interest or coverage for your attorney’s fees.
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It’s Time to Contact Moon Law Group
California’s employment laws give you three years to take legal action against an employer who has violated your right to rest breaks or meals. If you want to take advantage of your right to action, you can get in touch with a rest and meal break violation attorney serving Bakersfield, CA, today.
The legal team with Moon Law Group can immediately begin compiling the evidence necessary to move forward with your case. That immediacy can make all the difference in your case, as swift action can prevent an employer from undermining your position.
Our support makes it easier for abused employees to protect their right to fair treatment in the workplace. Contact us today to book your employment law case consultation.
Call or text 213-232-3128 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form