NWR: Work/Break Question

nightmare_of_beauty

Does anyone know if a job has to let you have breaks or lunches? According to everything I'm finding on-line, there is nothing in the law that says they have to let you have them. (obviously you can tell there's some disagreement at my work about this and I'm wondering if they have the legal right to take them away)

nda_roxybabe

Depends on your state. Sadly, my state doesn't require it.

Nebb

Um im fairly certain its against the law to refuse your employees breaks or lunch.

nda_roxybabe

OH yea, meant to say my state doesn't require lunches. I believe it requires 2 15 min. breaks though...I think..

ohwhynot

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/workhours/breaks.htm

Edited to add:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Employment-Law-924/2008/4/Ohio-breaks.htm

I don't know how accurate that second site is; about halfway down teh page there is an answer that Ohio only requires lunch breaks/other breaks for minors. 

If I were you, I'd google around a bit more to find out for sure OR call teh attorney general's office in your state and ask about labor laws there. 

mizri

I know here, we've always been required to have at least one 30 min lunch, off the clock, if we worked over 5 hours.  This was while I was working at Sears.  Even if we were scheduled for a 5 hour shift, and didn't have a scheduled lunch, we had to take one, because if we went over 5 hours and didn't have a 30 minute lunch, Sears could get in trouble.

nda_roxybabe

This just reminds me how my work refuses to pay overtime which is definitely against the law.

mizri

I miss getting paid... My pay has changed forms and is now in terms of hugs and kisses....  Being a stay at home mom is fun sometimes, but I really miss bringing home that paycheck.

nightmare_of_beauty

Mizri: I worked at Sears too and they had a FIT if you didn't take a lunch after 5 hours! That's why I thought there was a legal obligation!

ricksang

Yes, you have to have a lunch and two 15 min breaks depending on your hours.

http://www.osha.gov/workers.html

shellydiane820

in IL its very much against the law.

ohwhynot

Ricksang, I'm not seeing that on your link - where could I find that?  It contradicts what the department of labor says on their webpage; how weird. 

Here's the link from the OSHA page ricksang put up, which was the result of searching on that page for "breaks":

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/workhours/breaks.htm

kimheartsscott

When I worked at Target, we had to have 15 minutes for every 6 (I think) hours, and a 30 minute lunch for every 8.  Although, I do remember that when I worked 8, I had to have 2 breaks and a lunch, so maybe it was 15 every 3 or 4 hours? 

nightmare_of_beauty

at Sears it was 15 for every 4.

ohwhynot: just got done reading what Rick posted and was confused, now moving to yours

mizri

When I worked at StarTek (call center), we had two 15 min breaks and a 30 min or one hour lunch during an 8 hour shift.  If you were a 10 hour shift, you got 3 15 min breaks and a lunch, either 30 min or an hour.

nightmare_of_beauty

Looks like they are NOT required.

I'm surprised more places don't take advantage of that then.

Thanks for your help everyone!

nightmare_of_beauty

Roxy: I know not paying overtime is against the law! The poster here at my work says that! This poster is suppose to be posted at EVERY work places and talks about pay and overtime.

ricksang

Wow I guess I was wrong. I was always told that employers were required to give lunch breaks.

mizri

Well, let's not tell our employers that!  Could you imagine working 8 hours with no break at all???  No thanks.  I do plan on going back to work at some time, and really like my breaks.

ricksang

Seriously. It should be a law!

ohwhynot

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-workbreak-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:52240d33-9540-4887-953c-acd9a4df738bPost:c40fc94c-4174-4716-a782-2c719386efc6">Re: NWR: Work/Break Question</a>:
[QUOTE]Wow I guess I was wrong. I was always told that employers were required to give lunch breaks.
Posted by ricksang[/QUOTE]
I always thought that, too!  I was really surprised when I did the search.  I always heard the same "15 minutes every four hours," too, and I thought it was federal law - it may well be the law in most states, though.  Color me surprised. 

nda_roxybabe

Yea, those posters you're required to have? We don't have 'em.

PharmacyBride

I have been on rotation all year working for free.  When I graduate- I get to work for a national chain for 12 or 13 hour shifts - most places don't let you leave for your lunch break (you just have to hope your store slows down long enough to scarf down some lunch).. and to top it off- a lot of places have installed the "no sitting rule."

I realize I chose my profession and everything that goes all with it- but all of the above seems SOOO ridiculous..  all the pharmacists that have been working for 10, 15, 20 years are getting their contracts changed to remove the 8 hour shift.. or they will be replaced by the new grads (who are desperate for jobs).

This is all because our paychecks are way more than they should be.  I would take a smaller paycheck any day over this.. I dread what it would be like to work 8 months pregnant.

PS- I would love to work for an independent- but most have gone out of business in the last 5 years due to changes in their reimbursements.

Sorry if my vent is out of place- I realize my situation is a bit different- still - I am about to graduate and I keep wishing I knew this 4.5 years ago when I was applying to pharmacy schools!

nightmare_of_beauty

My work is getting rid of breaks completely, hence what prompted me to ask. We don't get lunches, we have to eat at the desk which at times can be frustrating...though I will admit with me working midnights, it's not a HUGE issue. Sadly I am a smoker, so I am no longer allowed my smoke breaks. I graduate in 3 weeks...I can't wait because once I do I'm looking for a new job, only reason I'm not looking yet is because I'm still interning till the 30th and I have to be there during the day. Seems like some kind of break should be a law...or other places would take advantage of it. *shrugs* oh well

HDutko

I am not required to get a lunch. We work an 8 hour shift. If there is time I can take a half hour for lunch and its paid for. However, since I am paid the entire time I am not gaurunteed a lunch break.

mwhitson14

I've never had a job that gave me lunch breaks and small breaks. Bah.

missy68

My job is regulated by a union, and we're required 2 paid 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch. In fact, payroll automatically deducts the lunch from our paycheck if we don't clock out (if I eat at my desk, go to the cafeteria/stay on campus - if I go off campus requires clocking out).

Other than teaching, I've never not had a job that didn't give me a lunch hour.