If you thought the generally employer-friendly Brinker decision meant we won’t be seeing large financial awards in meal and rest break lawsuits, think again.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ordered a security services firm to pay nearly $90 million in an employment lawsuit brought by 15,000 security guards, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The lawsuit alleged that the guards were denied off-duty rest breaks and were required to remain on call during their breaks. In the ruling, Judge John Wiley said: “Put simply, if you are on call, you are not on break. That has been the law for many years.”

Though the Brinker decision gave employers much needed guidance in the area of meal and rest breaks, California law still poses significant risks.

Author: Gail Cecchettini Whaley

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