If you do business in California, you already know: California break compliance is one of the biggest legal risks facing employers today.
Between strict labor laws and the growing threat of PAGA (Private Attorneys General Act) lawsuits, even small break compliance mistakes can lead to big financial penalties.
Many businesses don’t realize they’re out of compliance until it’s too late — and without clear records, it’s difficult to defend against a break claim.
At BusyBusy, we’re committed to helping California companies proactively manage these risks. That’s why we created the California Breaks Scanner — a powerful new tool that helps you stay ahead of break compliance problems and protect your business.
Why California Break Compliance Matters
Under California law, employees must receive:
- A 30-minute unpaid meal break if they work more than 5 hours
- A second 30-minute meal break if they work more than 10 hours
These breaks must also be taken within specific time windows — not simply “sometime during the day.”
If employees miss required breaks, take them late, or don’t receive their full break time, employers are required to pay penalties.
That’s where PAGA lawsuits come in. If you’re not familiar with PAGA, it’s a powerful law that allows employees to file claims on behalf of themselves and others — turning small break violations into expensive class-action lawsuits. Learn more about PAGA here.
The risks are real:
- One violation per employee can cost thousands in penalties
- Companies across industries have paid six- and seven-figure settlements
- The #1 defense? Clear, accurate break compliance records
If your records aren’t complete and correct, the law assumes the employee’s version of events is accurate. You need proactive tools to manage California break compliance — not reactive legal defense.
To further strengthen your compliance efforts, consider leveraging platforms like Cal Comply, which offers attorney-designed training courses to educate your workforce on California’s complex employment laws. Their solutions can help turn compliance into a habit, not a headache.
The Solution: BusyBusy’s California Break Scanner
BusyBusy’s California Breaks Scanner helps you catch and correct break compliance issues before they become legal problems.
When combined with BusyBusy’s other California break compliance features — including:
- Required 30-minute break enforcement
- Daily Break Signoff (employees confirm whether they took required breaks)
- Detailed timecard records (showing break length and timing)
— the Break Scanner gives you a complete system to stay in compliance and protect your business.
How It Works
The California Breaks Scanner is built into BusyBusy’s Payroll Scanner. It activates automatically when:
- California Break settings are enabled in your Daily Signoff question
- California Overtime Rules are active in your Pay Period settings
Once enabled, the Breaks Scanner:
- Scans employee time entries to flag:
- Missing breaks
- Breaks too short
- Breaks taken outside required time windows
- Flags Daily Signoff entries where employees report they didn’t take required breaks
- Provides a clear report so you can:
- Review flagged entries
- Correct errors before payroll runs
Proactively manage break compliance before an issue escalates
Why It Matters
In today’s legal climate, proactive California break compliance is critical.
PAGA lawsuits are on the rise — and companies that can’t prove compliance are the most vulnerable.
BusyBusy’s California Breaks Scanner helps you:
- Prevent break violations from slipping through the cracks
- Prove compliance with clear records
- Reduce legal risk and protect your business
And like everything we build at BusyBusy, it’s easy to use and seamlessly integrated into your daily workflows.
Stay Protected with BusyBusy
If you’re serious about protecting your business from California break compliance risk, BusyBusy’s California Breaks Scanner belongs in your toolkit.
It’s one more way we help California employers prevent, protect, and prepare for potential break lawsuits — before they happen.
See how BusyBusy’s California Break Tools can help your business.
