WORK: I work from 7am - 4pm with an hour lunch. Why can't I take my lunch hour from 3:00 to 4:00?

Zeltar

Your management doesn't answer because there really isn't a good answer for them to give you. As a salaried person, you are an Exempt employee. Non Exempt employees (hourly) must follow labor law standards. In the US.... that means that every 2 hours, you must get a short break. And, after 4 hours, you must be given a long break. Generally, this long break is considered a lunch break (no matter if you work a regular shift, swing shift, or graveyard shift).

As an Exempt employee, you might work 8 hours normally, but also have days you work 12+ hours. The idea is that your average hours will equate to approximately 40 hours per week. And, yes this implies that you could work less than 8 hours in a day if your load at work enables this. Exempt employees also usually get paid for vacation and sick time; and things like Jury Duty. Since you are exempt, nobody forces you to take a break. They also should not be telling you when to take a break. This decision is suppose to be up to you based on your work. A salary person should be measured by the work output, not the hours of day they are present.

A manager that has to count the hours their employees are at work doesn't know what's going on. A manager that can measure employees effectiveness by their output knows exactly what's going on. If one person can bring in $1 million in business with 2 hours a day vs. another that works 12 hours a day and brings in just $200,000 in business... I'd prefer the one that just works 2 hours a day. Obviously, that employee is a high performer. And, just think what they'll do if I give them more responsiblity and a higher salary! They will work more hours... eventually giving me 40+ a week and my business will thrive. This is one way people get noticed and promoted. It's not about sweat. It's about results.

jlf

Because your employer says so.

~M|ssy~

Not only because your employer says so...

.....breaks are generally offered to give the employee a rest in the middle of his/her work shift.

They are not there so you can leave work an hour early. I know it doesn't seem fair, but that's how it works.

Sheri G

There could be employment standards regulations. Here in BC, Canada, the Employment Standards Act requires that a person not work more than 4 hours without a break.

Also, one of the definitions of "employment" by Canada Revenue Agency (as opposed to "contractor") is that the employer sets the hours of work. Whether it's arbitrary or not, they have that right/obligation.

rwa000

because they pay you and they make the rules,

Edit- there is no Federal law that says any gets breaks but minors, and very few states have provisions for breaks

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