How Many Days in a Row Can You Work in California? (2024)

Sep 14, 2023 | By Ottinger Employment Lawyers | Read Time: 3 minutes

If you are working 7 days in a row in California, you might be entitled to overtime pay.

What is the maximum number of days allowed to work in a row?

In California, labor laws mandate that employers provide employees with a day of rest during each workweek. Specifically, employees generally cannot work more than six consecutive days in a week. However, it’s essential to note that there are exceptions to this rule, depending on various factors, including the industry, type of work, and employment agreements.

Exceptions may apply:

• Certain industries, such as agriculture or healthcare, may have different rules regarding consecutive workdays.
• Collective bargaining agreements or employment contracts might include provisions that allow for flexibility in scheduling.

To ensure compliance with California labor laws and to understand any industry-specific or contractual exceptions, it is advisable to consult with your employer or legal counsel. These laws are in place to protect workers’ rights and well-being, and it’s crucial for both employers and employees to be aware of and adhere to them.

If you think you’ve experienced a labor law violation, Ottinger Employment Lawyers can review your case form. You don’t pay unless we win. To get started, please contact us today.

Rules for Work Schedules in California

It’s important to understand your rights as an employee whenever you start a new job or whenever your existing employer makes a request.

A key question you might ask is, How many days in a row can you work in CA? In general, every worker should have days of rest.

California law normally prohibits an employer from requiring you to work more than six out of seven days. Which means you should not be required to work 7 days in a row in California. On the surface, this rule might seem pretty straightforward.

However, the rule doesn’t always mean that your employer can’t require you to work seven days in a row. Please read on for clarification.

California’s Rest Day Rules Aren’t Always About Consecutive Days of Work

Looking at the law’s wording, it states that you can’t be required to work “more than six days in seven.”

The law clarifies this wording by stating that employees who work jobs that reasonably need longer work weeks can be required to work seven or more days in a row, as long as one out of every seven days in the month is a rest day.

This means that all your rest days could potentially come at one point in the month without creating a violation.

California’s Rest Day Rules Don’t Apply to All Employees

The nature of your work and your particular employee status might also change your entitlement to rest days.

The rule that your employer can’t require you to work more than six out of seven days doesn’t apply to common carriers in the train industry or employees needed in certain emergency situations.

This rule also doesn’t apply to employees who don’t work more than 30 hours in a week and don’t work more than six hours any day.

Determining whether loopholes or exceptions in California’s rest day rules apply to you isn’t always easy. But don’t worry.

An experienced employment attorney has the skills and understanding to effectively advocate for your rest days.

An attorney can also help you determine whether your situation is illegal and make the best decision about whether to file a complaint.

What to Do If There Was a Rest Day Law Violation

Maybe you have the answer to the question, How many days in a row can you work in California?

Maybe you’ve determined that your employer violated the law by depriving you of rest days. What happens now?

You can file a complaint with the California Department of Industrial Relations against your employer. Ultimately, your employer’s labor law violation could entitle you to damages or subject your employer to criminal penalties.

Contact a California Labor Law Attorney for a Case Review

Standing up to your employer is rarely easy and often requires expert help. At Ottinger Employment Lawyers, we’ve been winning justice for mistreated employees for over 20 years.

We are aggressive, we are professional, and we care about your needs. Contact us online or call us at 866-476-7426 for a consultation. Our employment law attorneys are here to talk and solve your employment problems.

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