Prospective Meal Period Waivers May be Valid, Absent Unconscionability or Coercion

In a recent wage and hour case, a California Court of Appeal handed employers a rare win — concluding for the first time that nonexempt employees’ written prospective or “blanket” meal period waivers for work shifts between five and six hours were valid and enforceable in the absence of any evidence that the waivers were coercive or unconscionable (Bradsbery v. Vicar Operating, Inc., No. B322799 (Cal. Ct. App. Apr. 21, 2025)).

Meal Periods and Waivers

In this case, La Kimba Brandsbery and Cheri Brakensiek worked as veterinary technicians