California Meal and Rest Breaks: What You Don't Know Can Cost You

25 Mar 2026
12:00 PM PDT | 03:00 PM EDT
60 Minutes

Navigating California's statutes on meal and rest periods for hourly-paid employees is one of the most intricate and challenging aspects of HR management today. These regulations are not only complex but also critical to ensuring fair treatment and compliance within your organization. Understanding these laws is essential for HR professionals who aim to protect their companies from legal pitfalls and foster a supportive work environment.

In this comprehensive 60-minute online session, you will gain in-depth knowledge and practical tools to ensure your company adheres to California’s stringent meal and rest period requirements. By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the expertise to confidently guide your organization in implementing compliant practices, thereby safeguarding your company and enhancing employee satisfaction.

WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?

As an HR professional, you know that compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes-it's about protecting your company and supporting your employees. That's why our upcoming webinar is tailored to provide you with essential knowledge in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner.

You'll be able to gather:

  • Practical Foundations: We'll cut through the legal jargon and equip you with practical insights. Whether you're drafting a new policy or reviewing an existing one, you'll gain clarity on how to navigate California's meal and rest period requirements effectively
  • Real-Life Applications: Compliance isn't theoretical; it's about what happens in the day-to-day. We'll discuss procedures and practices that work in the trenches of "real life." No fluff-just actionable guidance

AREA COVERED

  • Effect of the California Supreme Court decision of Brinker Restaurant Corporation v. Supervisor Court on Meal and rest periods
  • Specific sections of the California Labor Code and the California Wage Order, both of which establish the requirements for meal breaks
  • Waivers and on-duty meal periods
  • Rest periods
  • On-call rest periods
  • Best practices for complying with the law

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Basic Requirements: Understand the fundamental requirements under California law for meal and rest periods
  • Impact of Brinker Decision: Review the effects of the California Supreme Court decision in Brinker Restaurant Corporation v. Superior Court on meal and rest periods
  • Specific Sub-Topics: Delve into waivers and on-duty meal periods, rest periods, and on-call rest periods
  • Common Violations: Deconstruct frequent employer violations and how to avoid them
  • Penalties and Remedies: Learn about the penalties and remedies for non-compliance
  • Recent Settlements: Examine examples of recent settlements to understand the implications of non-compliance
  • Best Practices: Discover best practices for ensuring compliance

WHO WILL BENEFIT?

  • Leaders (Executive, Vice-President, Director, Manager) and Supervisors of hourly-paid Employees based in California
  • Human Resources Leaders and Professionals (all levels) with California Responsibilities
  • Functional leaders: Finance, Accounting, Operations, Human Resources, Quality, Sales (Inside Sales), Marketing, Engineering, Sanitation

As an HR professional, you know that compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes-it's about protecting your company and supporting your employees. That's why our upcoming webinar is tailored to provide you with essential knowledge in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner.

You'll be able to gather:

  • Practical Foundations: We'll cut through the legal jargon and equip you with practical insights. Whether you're drafting a new policy or reviewing an existing one, you'll gain clarity on how to navigate California's meal and rest period requirements effectively
  • Real-Life Applications: Compliance isn't theoretical; it's about what happens in the day-to-day. We'll discuss procedures and practices that work in the trenches of "real life." No fluff-just actionable guidance
  • Effect of the California Supreme Court decision of Brinker Restaurant Corporation v. Supervisor Court on Meal and rest periods
  • Specific sections of the California Labor Code and the California Wage Order, both of which establish the requirements for meal breaks
  • Waivers and on-duty meal periods
  • Rest periods
  • On-call rest periods
  • Best practices for complying with the law
  • Basic Requirements: Understand the fundamental requirements under California law for meal and rest periods
  • Impact of Brinker Decision: Review the effects of the California Supreme Court decision in Brinker Restaurant Corporation v. Superior Court on meal and rest periods
  • Specific Sub-Topics: Delve into waivers and on-duty meal periods, rest periods, and on-call rest periods
  • Common Violations: Deconstruct frequent employer violations and how to avoid them
  • Penalties and Remedies: Learn about the penalties and remedies for non-compliance
  • Recent Settlements: Examine examples of recent settlements to understand the implications of non-compliance
  • Best Practices: Discover best practices for ensuring compliance
  • Leaders (Executive, Vice-President, Director, Manager) and Supervisors of hourly-paid Employees based in California
  • Human Resources Leaders and Professionals (all levels) with California Responsibilities
  • Functional leaders: Finance, Accounting, Operations, Human Resources, Quality, Sales (Inside Sales), Marketing, Engineering, Sanitation
Currency:
Webinar Option
Live + Recorded Session
Live + Transcript
Live + USB
Transcript (PDF Transcript of the Training)
Downloadable Recorded Session
USB
Group Session Participants + Recorded

Live Session with unlimited participants. Invite any number of attendees to join.

Speaker Profile

ins_img Melveen Stevenson

Melveen Stevenson is the CEO and founder of M.S. Elemental, LLC, a human resources and business advisory firm. As a certified HR professional with a background in accounting and finance, she helps companies to navigate the human resources “jungle” of compliance, human capital, and leadership challenges. In doing so, she empowers companies to strengthen their infrastructure from the inside out, specifically through leadership development, operations, training, employee engagement, and executive coaching.Melveen speaks on key topics to empower companies with the latest research and best practices for increasing engagement, enhancing leadership presence, and optimizing diverse workforce groups.Over the last 20 years, …

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