Breaks
What Does the “End of the Fifth Hour” Really Mean? (Or Why Our Break Calculator Isn’t Wrong)
So when it comes to late lunch violations under California labor law, the general public (and from time to time, even some lawyers) like to argue with us about what the end of the fifth hour really means. Our break calculator has been tested many times and it is 100% correct. Even so, some people…
Read MoreCalifornia Meal Break & Rest Break Law (2026) – Quick Calculator + Charts
Not getting all your breaks? WageCop records your real shifts and automatically flags possible break issues based on your actual hours, not a what-if. Built by Eugene Lee, the California employment lawyer behind this blog. Free to download and use. This meal break and rest break calculator will tell you how many meal and/or rest…
Read MoreCan Employers Require Employees to Remain on Premises? (2026)
A reader of this blog recently asked an intriguing question: “Your boss may require you to remain on work premises during your rest break.: Is this still true after the recent California Supreme Court decision? I believe the reader was referring to Augustus v. ABM Security Services, Inc., 2 Cal. 5th 257 (2016). That decision…
Read MoreMy Boss 1099s Me, Am I Really an Independent Contractor? (2026)
If your boss gives you a 1099 tax form each year, does that mean you are an independent contractor? What if you signed an independent contractor agreement? What if you submit invoices to your boss to be paid? The answer may surprise you.
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