California Supreme Court Rules On Employer Monitoring of Lunch and Rest Breaks

A decision has been made in the high-profile Brinker Restaurant Corp. vs. Superior Court case concerning employee meal and rest breaks. Over three years ago the California Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments and ever since this case has been closely watched and highly debated.

Thursday morning the Court ruled that employers are under no obligation to “ensure” workers take legally mandated lunch and rest breaks. Many observers view this as a win-win situation. As a result of the ruling employers do not have to spend the time, energy, and money policing workers. Additionally workers can manage their productivity levels creating more realistic time management based on the nature of the workflow. Flexibility is a key element. It is still the employer’s responsibility to create systems and procedures that fully allow employees an opportunity to take their meal and rest breaks, but ultimately it is up to the employee to follow through with taking these breaks.

It is unclear whether the opinion would reduce or increase class-action lawsuits because the court did not dismiss the meal break violation brought by workers, it was sent back in trial courts to be reargued.