New CA Meal Break Case

Is a written prospective waiver of a meal break effective for shifts between five and six hours?

Last month, the California Court of Appeal decided this issue of first impression. Below is my one-paragraph summary of this new decision:

Bradsbery v. Vicar Operating, Inc. (2025) __ Cal.App.5th __, 2025 WL 1155812: The Court of Appeal ruled on an issue of first impression regarding meal breaks. Can an effective mutual waiver by an employer and employee of the 30-minute meal period after five hours of work, occur prospectively and in writing pursuant to Labor Code Section 512, which provides that for shifts between five and six hours the first meal period may be waived by mutual consent of both the employer and employee? The Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s order granting defendant’s motion for summary judgment in plaintiffs’ wage and hour action alleging that defendant failed to provide employees with the meal periods required by section 512 and IWC Wage ...