How Many Hours Are Required Between Shifts in California?

Understanding California’s Stance on Time Between Shifts

In California, there is no legal minimum number of hours required between shifts. Employers are not obligated to provide a specific rest period between shifts, and it’s legal to be scheduled back-to-back or with less than 8 hours between shifts. That said, you’re still entitled to meal and rest breaks during your shifts, a day of rest in most seven-day workweeks, and overtime pay for demanding schedules — all covered below.

If your employer fails to respect your right to rest and adequate pay, our experienced and fierce employment law advocates at Bibiyan Law Group, PC, can help ensure that your employer changes its ways and pays you handsomely for its violations. Reach out to speak with a Los Angeles employment lawyer today!

What Meal and Rest Breaks Are You Entitled to in California?

In many cases, your employer needs to provide you with at least one break time and one meal break on a daily basis. Your right to a break depends on the length of your shift and the nature of your work. But in general, employers must provide the following:

• A 10-minute break time for every four hours that you work,
• A 30-minute meal break whenever you work more than five hours in a day; and 
• An additional 30-minute meal break when you work more than 10 hours in a day. 

Your employer has to pay you during your 10-minute breaks, but your 30 minutes meal breaks can be unpaid break periods as long as they are uninterrupted and allow you to leave the premises if you want. Employees can also use a time card calculator to calculate hours accurately, including breaks, to ensure proper pay.

Employers that fail to follow these rules must give you an hour of pay for each violation.

The above rest and meal break laws apply to most employees, but there are exceptions. For instance, those who work in motion pictures can work for up to six hours without receiving a meal break. And the meal and rest period laws are different for those who work in domestic positions and on farms.

When you speak to one of our knowledgeable attorneys, we can tell you whether an exception applies to your situation and what you can expect to recover under the circumstances of your case.  

Is it illegal to be scheduled less than 8 hours between shifts?

In California, there is no law requiring a minimum number of hours between shifts. Therefore, it is legal to be scheduled with any amount of time duration between shifts, including less than 8 hours. This applies throughout the state.

Employees can track their start time and total hours worked using a time card calculator to calculate hours accurately, whether in decimal hours or military time.

What Is the “Day of Rest” Rule in California?

Sometimes the required minimum time between shifts in California can be 24 hours. Section 552 of the California Labor Code states that an employer shall not require employees to work more than six days in seven.

How Does Overtime Work in California?

Your employer can impose a demanding work schedule on you, but if you are a non-exempt employee, your employer needs to pay a premium for that schedule. Under California law, you must receive overtime pay at the following rates for the following total hours:

• If you work more than 40 hours in a workweek, your employer must pay you 1.5 times your regular rate for the excess time duration worked;
• If you work more than eight hours in a workday, your employer must pay you 1.5 times your regular rate for the excess hours and 15 minutes worked;
• If you work up to eight hours on your seventh consecutive workday in a week, your employer must pay you 1.5 times your regular rate for the hours you work on your seventh day; 
• If you work more than 12 hours in a workday, your employer must pay you twice your regular rate for the amount of time you work over 12 hours; and 
• If you work more than eight hours on your seventh consecutive workday in a week, your employer must pay you twice your regular rate for the amount of decimal hours you worked over eight hours on your seventh day. 

Some professionals, salespeople, and agricultural workers are exempt from the above overtime rules (either fully or partially), so you should consult with your attorney about your rights. Employees working full-time can track minutes by 60 to convert them into hours for accurate calculations.

What Should You Do If You’re Not Getting Adequate Breaks or Pay?

If you have not received adequate compensation or break time at your workplace, you can file a wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner. Our employment lawyers can timely file your claim for you and maximize your recovery.

We Are Here to Help

At Bibiyan Law Group, our attorneys are passionate about protecting the rights and well-being of employees all over the State of California. We are award-winning, aggressive, and successful advocates who have regularly recovered millions for mistreated employees.

Please contact us online if you need help or call 310-438-5555 for a free case review.