This is a free tool that gives a rough estimate based only on publicly available information about California break and overtime rules.
It is not legal advice and it is not a substitute for a lawyer. Any result can be wrong. You must verify anything here with a licensed California attorney before relying on it. Using this tool does not create an attorney-client relationship.
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What's a meal-break waiver?
California normally requires a 30-minute unpaid meal break once you work more than 5 hours. But if a shift is 6 hours or less, you and your employer can mutually agree in writing to skip that meal break. That written agreement is the "waiver."
Check the box only if such a written waiver was actually signed. A waiver only covers shifts of 6 hours or less — it can't waive the meal break on a longer shift. If you're not sure, leave it unchecked.
California Meal & Rest Break Penalty Calculator
Estimate the meal-break, rest-break, and overtime premiums you may be owed under California law. Free. Your data stays in your browser unless you upload a file for us to read.
Not legal advice. A free estimate from public information only. It can be wrong and doesn't cover every situation. Verify any result with a licensed California attorney.
Enter hours manually
Upload a file
One row per work day. Enter clock in/out before the meal and clock in/out after the meal. Worked straight through with no meal? Fill only the first in/out. For rest breaks, say whether all your paid 10-minute rest breaks were taken.
Date
Clock in
Out (meal)
In (from meal)
Clock out
Rest breaks
Rate $
Drop a file here or click to choose
Excel (.xlsx/.xls), CSV, or PDF of your time punches
↓ Download our fill-in Excel templateWorks with exports from ADP, Paychex, 7shifts, and most systems. We auto-detect your columns; you confirm before it calculates.
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Extracted text:
0
days checked
0
meal violations
0
rest violations
0
overtime hours
$0
est. break premiums owed
Date
Worked
Meal
Result
OT
Owed
Each violating day = one hour of premium pay at that day's rate (Labor Code § 226.7), max one meal + one rest premium per day. Overtime shown is daily only (over 8h at 1.5×, over 12h at 2×); weekly overtime and 7th-day rules are not included. All figures are estimates.