The California supreme court will decide a case regarding whether managers have to enforce rest and meal breaks, rather than simply provide them. The case was filed in 2004, and the company is arguing that breaks are at the employee's discretion, while lawyers for workers say that by not having times for breaks set up, companies are taking advantage of workers when the workplace is busy. California has a monetary penalty for employers who violate the break part of labor law. Experts say that the clarification in the law would be good for both employers and workers, and may cut down on the number of class action lawsuits.
See "Calif high court to decide lunch break lawsuit", Jason Dearen, Business Week, April 11, 2012