On a construction site covered by Wage Order 16, when is a 10-minute paid rest period required?
Explanation
Wage Order 16 §11 sets rest on total daily hours: a net 10 paid minutes for every four hours worked, or major fraction of four, which the DLSE reads as anything more than two hours. Nothing turns on an eight-hour day — that figure belongs to the daily overtime line, and a worker who puts in six hours has already earned two breaks, which is why 'once per shift' is short. Rest is also not something the employee has to ask for: the employer must authorize and permit it, and the ten minutes are paid as hours worked.
Law Reference: IWC Wage Order 16 §11; DLSE rest-period guidance; Labor Code §226.7This topic, taught in full in the CSLB Law & Business guide. CSLB Law & Business — Complete Study Guide (2026) — PDF + EPUB, $24.99 · 14-day refund →
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