Date: June 24th, 2026

Time: 1pm ET | 12pm CT | 11am MT | 10am PT

Duration: 120 Minutes

Description:

California’s meal and rest period laws are strict statutory requirements not mere best practices and failure to comply can lead to significant wage-and-hour liabilities, penalties, and class-action exposure. For HR professionals, payroll administrators, and business managers, navigating these rules can feel complex, but mastering them is essential for maintaining a fair, compliant, and legally defensible workplace.

Are you confident your organization is fully compliant with California’s stringent meal and rest period standards? Do you understand the legal risks and financial consequences of non-compliance?

In this  course, we’ll break down these complex requirements into clear, actionable principles. You’ll gain a practical understanding of:

• The fundamental meal break requirements under California law

• The impact of the Brinker decision on employer obligations and policy design

• Waivers, on-call rest periods, and other nuanced compliance issues

• Common employer violations and how to prevent them

• Penalties, remedies, and the real-world impact of recent legal settlements

This course is designed for HR professionals, payroll staff, and business leaders who need to implement compliant meal and rest period practices while minimizing legal risk. You’ll walk away with concrete strategies to update policies, train supervisors, and protect your organization from costly wage-and-hour disputes.

Topics Covered:

• Meal Break Requirements.
• Brinker Decision Analysis.
• Common Employer Violations.
• Rest Period Compliance

Learning Objectives

• Explain California’s statutory meal and rest period requirements for employees.
• Analyze how the Brinker Restaurant Corp. v. Hohnbaum decision shapes employer policies and practices.
• Identify common meal and rest period violations and apply practical strategies to avoid them.
• Describe the penalties, remedies, and enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance.
• Evaluate recent legal settlements and apply their lessons to organizational policies and risk management.

Who Will Benefit:

• Chief Executive Officer
• Chief Operating Officer
• VP of Human Resources
• Chief Learning Officer
• Director
• Project Manager
• Payroll Professional
• Operations Manager
• Human Resources Professional
• Talent Management Professional

About Our Speaker 

Ms. Melveen Stevenson

Melveen Stevenson is a sought-after human resources consultant and business advisor. As a certified HR professional with a background in accounting and finance, she helps companies to navigate the human resources “jungle” of compliance, human capital, and leadership challenges. In doing so, she empowers companies to strengthen their infrastructure from the inside out, specifically through leadership development, operations, training, employee engagement, and executive coaching.Melveen speaks on key topics to empower companies with the latest research and best practices for increasing engagement, enhancing leadership presence, and optimizing diverse workforce groups.
Over the last 20 years, Melveen has held leadership positions in human resources operations, supply chain, and talent management at international companies in food manufacturing, medical devices, and consumer products. She was also a faculty member at California State University-Dominguez Hills. She has spent most of her career in California, and has expertise in the state’s complicated employment regulations.