Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Labor & Employment Law Blogs -> California Labor & Employment Defense Blog

Labor & Employment Law

: California Labor & Employment Defense Blog

DLSE Orders Staff To Follow Brinker

The DLSE has recently issued a memorandum to its deputy labor commissioners instructing them to follow the holding in Brinker v. Superior Court. The July 25, 2008 DLSE memorandum provides, in pertinent part, that the Brinker decision is “a published decision, and its rulings are therefore binding upon the [DLSE].” In addition, the memorandum makes clear that Brinker:

• Held that Labor Code Section 512 and the meal period requirements set forth in the applicable wage order mean that employers “must provide meal periods by making them available, but need not ensure that they are taken. Employers, however, cannot impede, discourage or dissuade employees from taking meal periods.”
• Rejected the so-called “rolling five hour” requirement as being inconsistent with the plain meaning of Labor Code Section 512 and the applicable wage order. The memorandum made clear that “[a]n employer must make a first 30-minute meal period available to an hourly employee who is permitted to work more than five hours per day, unless (1) the employee is permitted to work a ‘total work period per day’ that is six hours or less, or (2) both the employee and the employer agreed by “mutual consent” to waive the meal period.
• Held that the rest period requirements set forth in the applicable wage order mean that “employers must provide rest periods, but need not ensure that they are taken. Employers, however, cannot impede, discourage or dissuade employees from taking rest periods.”
• Held that employers need only authorize and permit rest periods every four hours or major fraction thereof and they need not, where impracticable, be in the middle of each work period.

To review the complete text of the DLSE memorandum click here.

Although this is a significant development as employers frequently find themselves before the labor commissioner, the DLSE memorandum is of little value if an employee chooses to pursue their claims in court. Moreover, the memorandum does not state if the DLSE will continue to follow Brinker in the event the California Supreme Court decides to review the decision. Nevertheless, the DLSE’s position will undoubtedly be welcomed by employers throughout California.

Full post as published by California Labor & Employment Defense Blog on July 31, 2008 (boomark / email).