Chapman University : Staff and Administrative Handbook
2.7.5 Break and Meal Periods for Staff Employees  
2.7.5.1 General
      The purpose of this section to clarify when meal and break periods are required, and under what circumstances they must be included as paid time.  
2.7.5.2 Break Periods
      Employees working a shift of less than three and one-half hours are not entitled to paid breaks.  Other employees are entitled to take one paid break of fifteen minutes for each four hour time period in which they work more than half that time.    3.5 through 6 hours worked    l fifteen minute break
 7 through 11 hours worked     2 fifteen minute breaks
 12 through l6 hours worked    3 fifteen minute breaks       Employees are expected to utilize their break period at approximately half-way through each four hour shift. Break periods may not be combined with, or be used in lieu of, unpaid meal periods.
Break periods may not be used to offset an employee's late arrival to, or early departure from, work. Employees do not receive additional compensation for missed breaks.  Employees should be discouraged from missing their break periods.  
2.7.5.3 Meal Periods for Staff Employees
       Meal periods are required for all employees working five or more hours per day, except that employees scheduled work six hours or less per day may waive the meal period by mutual consent of the employee and the University. Meal periods are generally of a  one hour duration, and are never less than thirty minutes duration. Employees who normally work in excess of six hours per day must take a meal period before they have worked more than five hours into their regular shift.
Employees must be entirely relieved from all duty while on their meal breaks.  Any portion of a meal period in which the employee is working is paid as time worked.  If the employee has less than thirty minutes of uninterrupted time for a meal, then the entire meal period is paid as time worked.

    Employees may not "skip" a meal in order to arrive late or leave the workplace early without lost wages.  No employee may be scheduled to work more than six hours without a regular meal period.  Meal periods may not be combined with break periods.  Employees are discouraged from taking meal breaks at their work area, unless no alternative area is available. Time allotted for meal periods is generally not paid as time worked, except as noted above. Meal periods must be noted on Staff employees time sheets.