Q.Can an employee voluntarily work through the meal period to leave work early?

A.No. California Labor Code Section 512 requires all California employers to make sure their employees take the 30-minute meal period break. Employees do not have the right to choose to work through their meal period. For an employer to require or allow "on duty meal periods," the employer must prove that the nature of the work actually prevents the employee from being relieved of all duties during the required meal period.

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