This week’s Friday’s Five covers an important new court decision that offers clarity—and relief—for California employers navigating the state’s complex meal period rules.
In Bradsbery v. Vicar Operating, Inc., the California Court of Appeal confirmed that written, prospective meal period waivers for shifts lasting five to six hours are valid and enforceable—so long as they’re revocable and not coerced. While this outcome aligns with what many employers (and employment defense attorneys) already assumed, it finally provides clear and authoritative guidance for day-to-day compliance.
In this week’s YouTube video, I break down what this decision means, how it fits into the broader legal framework, and what action steps employers should take to stay compliant. Here’s the summary:
The case centered on whether an employer and employee can mutually agree—in advance and in writing—to waive the employee’s 30-minute meal period for short shifts (between 5 and 6 hours).
The plaintiffs argued that these types of waivers shouldn’t be allowed unless done at the time of each shift. The court rejected that view.
The court ruled that written, revocable waivers signed in advance are valid, so long as the employee:
California’s wage and hour laws are notoriously strict. But this...
Fact Check Fact Check From misinformation around the current military escalations between Israel and Iran to false claims of Air India plane crash survivor Vishwash Kumar Ramesh being arrested on s...