Ok I am not sure if there is any laws and regulations pertaining to breaks at work but here is what I got and any feed back would be appreciated. I get home and check my email and there is an email sent to me and another co worker that says : "2 - 15 minute breaks and a half an hour for lunch or 1 hour for lunch and no breaks in between." Her and I both smoke - we will go out at 10 am for 5 minutes go to lunch for 30 min in the afternoon and then around 3 we go out for another 5 minutes. That seems to be how I have done it in past jobs and what she said to us in the email seems a little stupid. Any feedback?
So what's the problem?......You get 2 15 minute breaks and 30 minutes for lunch, yet you are only taking 2 5 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch. Sounds to me like you are cheating yourself out of 20 minutes total of breaks. Craig
Any place I've ever worked it was 1/2 hr lunch and 2, 15 min. breaks or just an hour lunch. Although the hotel were I was the Guest Services Supervisor, I was lucky if I ever got the 1/2 hr lunch or time to run to the bathroom! Most of the time I ended up eating lunch IN the office, between helping guests and employees, that sucked, but at least I got a good meal from our resteraunt, (and free too!). LOL
NC has some of the worst Labor laws around. There is no law "requiring" breaks be given by employers just like they do not have to have any reason to fire you.
I end up working through my lunch break too, and I only get 30 minutes. Someone else can be in the office and if the phone rings or someone walks in, it doesn't matter if I am at lunch, I still have to deal with these people and help who ever walks in, no one else will do it. Don't have time to go anywhere to eat or anything like that, so usually bring my lunch. As far as regular scheduled breaks, doesn't happen. Just have gotten to where if I feel I need a break, I will look read the news on line or check into some things that my son has been interested in as far as the Air Force goes and read about some of that (he is interest in possibly getting into the AF band, so been checking that out).
I've never heard of them being unpaid. Usually those are paid for, or so I thought, but I'm no expert.
Non smokers can go for a walk, go sit outside, make calls or do whatever they want. They are entitled to breaks also. I take a 30 min lunch so I can leave at 4:30. I take 2 smoke breaks during the day.
Anyone can be given such breaks IF the employer wishes, but none are entitled the breaks unless there is a contract stipulating them. Just like taking the 30 minute lunch and leaving at 4:30 is an option the employer MAY give but is not required to do so. If an employer stipulates an hour for lunch in their written policy they can deduct that hour automatically from the day even if you leave at 4:30.
When I was an engineer it drove me crazy to be tethered to a desk in an office. When I was laid off they gave me a an outside job where I'm in a new place every hour. My point is, I love the freedom of being able to move around and not stuck in some office.
When I worked at the hair salon that same issue was brought up. the non smokers said it wasnt fair. I can see the point. Didnt stop me from smoking though. hehehe. What would be the "fair" thing to do?
I'd look for another job! Doesn't sound like I would like that B***ch for my boss! Never heard of unpaid breaks, except obviously lunch in which you clock in and out for..... Like I said "the door looks pretty nice to me!"
Well, I'm not hourly so I'm not sure what applies to that. I know I don't usually take "breaks". Heck, yesterday worked from 7:30-4:30 with no lunch, etc. We had a meeting at lunch and it was provided. I like having a flexible schedule so I don't mind, sometimes I go home from work and work a couple of hours in the evening too, but sometimes I skip out at 2:30 or work from home when needed or take a 2-3 hr. lunch if I have stuff to take care of. It all balances out in the end. My stepdaughter however is a cashier at a local grocery store, so she is hourly and is given two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch in an 8 hr. period.
Hubby is salary and works from 7:30am-5:30 pm with no lunch break or other breaks. He eats lunch at his desk in between phone calls. When nature calls, he goes right across the hall to the restroom and right back. It really sux!
Cool, with that kind of a schedule maybe you can make lunch on the 26th:-D Wait a minute, let me rethink this, last time i had lunch with you i went home and fell down and broke my foot:lol: :lol:
The fact of the matter is, there is no set law in NC for breaks. So as unfair as it may seem, if you only want to take a 30 min lunch so you can leave at 4:30, and you still want to take two 15 min breaks, she can require that those breaks be unpaid. Hey, who knows? Might be your incentive to quit smoking! BTW-I'll be smober for a whole freaking year come 01/30/07!!!
