Paid Breaks and Lunch At Work

Judy

No, it isn't legal, anywhere in the US anyway - if you are somewhere else, the law might be different. Federal law requires that you be paid for short breaks. It does NOT require that you be paid for the 1/2 hour lunch.

See http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/workhours/breaks.htm - I'd start by showing this to your boss. Good luck.

michr

1. Some employers are not covered by labor laws
2. assuming this employer is then you are to be PAID for a rest period of less then 20 minutes. if you take longer then 20 minutes then that rest period can be deducted from your time.
3. a meal break must be 30 minutes or more uninterrupted and is UNPAID
4. many employers have employees punch out to track all breaks and if you go over the 20 minutes they can and many will deduct that time.
5. keep track of your time and compare it to your pay stub at the end of each pay-period.
6. COMMUNICATE with your employer to clarify what they are doing in regards to breaks.

many states do not require any breaks for adults but regardless, of if they have to give breaks by law, they still must pay you if the break is less then 20 minutes.

state laws determine who must be given a break and how often.............
BUT
federal law determines which of those are paid and which are unpaid.

pinkempyreal

You lunch may not be paid, but you shouldn't be taken money for the fifteen minute break. Research your states labor laws.

hr4me

Short answer, yes you should be paid for the two 15 minute breaks, not paid for lunch. Ask if they will extend your shift by 30 minutes to make up for the lunch time.

kkatiellen

You are to be paid for them.
Careful though... at one of my jobs (Kroger), they would have you clock in and out for your breaks, but it was only to monitor how long we were gone.

Also, things to take into consideration are the state you live in and if you are a minor or not.

Research your labor laws. Or, they are also supposed to be posted in a break room of some sort.

venganceofg

It all depends on where you work. In the united states you don't have a lot of worker rights -- they can yell and scream at you and demean you and treat you worse than they treat their pets (which i imagine would be pretty horrible anyway). you are esentially a wage slave and they have carte blanche to steam roll right over you if you let them.

the good news is if you aren't happy with then change it. there are a million other mcjobs out there that might treat you better.

anesa714

You are supposed to get paid for your two 15 min breaks. You don't punch out for those, and you can't leave the premises. You're half an hour lunch you have to punch out for and you won't get paid for that either. On a lunch break obviously you can leave where ever you want to as long as its within that timeframe. First job huh?

bio_girl18

I think it depends on the place,
But at the place I work at, this is how it works:
4-5.75 hours: 1 paid ten minute break
6-7.75 hours: 1 paid 15 minute break OR 1 unpaid 30 minute break
8+ hours: 2 paid ten minute breaks (not taken at the same time) AND a 30 minite lunch break.

If you're uncertain that you aren't being given the correct payment, ask your manager, or the superviser...

helpmeplease

No and yes. Company decides. I used to have the same.

codys_babygurl

Well you are suppose to work 8 hours a day. excluding your lunch at me old job we worked 7-3:30- which is 8 1/2 hours but we had a lunch break for 1/2 hour and we clocked out on our two 15s we got paid I guess it depends on the employer and if you are full time or not because you must not be or they have their hours messed up because it doesn't sound right but for the 15 minutes it is up to the employer also if you are not working 8 hours then there is no requirement to have two 15 minute breaks and another 30 minute lunch break. Just something you will have to check with your employer on. I hope this helps

-Ashley Renea-

Nope, you're not paid for lunch or breaks, and its BS. I know what you mean, i never take a lunch or breaks cause i sit in my office so i can just eat in here and walk around- and still do my job but not get paid for it. Its ridiculous.

Smo

From what I can recall, you deserve a thirty minute break at least. Though every big company I've worked for, every by-the-book company like in a factory, gives you two paid, and one thirty minute unpaid break.

If I were you, I'd contact the better business bureau and make a complaint. You can also talk to someone there and ask them. They will then probably reprimand your company (without giving out your name, so don't worry about that) and force them to give you all breaks.

Here's the BBB's site: http://welcome.bbb.org/

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