The much-anticipated and long-awaiting decision in Brinker Restaurant Corp. v. Superior Court regarding a California employer’s duty to employees when it comes to meal and rest periods has come down primarily in favor of employers.

The decision addressed a number of issues, some of which were made clear and some remain mixed:

Meal Periods. The court ruled that, “An employer’s duty with respect to meal breaks…is an obligation to provide a meal period to its employees. The employer satisfies this obligation if it relieves its employees of all duty, relinquishes control over their activities and permits them a reasonable opportunity to take an uninterrupted 30-minute break, and does not impede or discourage them from doing so.”