Stacey E. James Says CA Supreme Court Ruling Places Burden on Employers

"High Court Ruling on Lunch, Rest Periods Eating at Employment Attorneys," San Diego Business Journal

This article discusses the California Supreme Court decision in Murphy v. Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. The decision essentially dictates that the hour of pay to which employees are entitled if they don't take a meal or rest period is a wage and not a penalty, and employers can be held accountable. Adding to the complexity of the issue for employers, employees now have three to four years to file related complaints. Stacey E. James, shareholder at Littler Mendelson's San Diego office, said the law "is one of the most difficult laws for employers to enforce." James said that while an employee may be the one to choose to work through lunch, it is the employer that is in violation of the law.

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