Your thoughts on meal breaks at work

[tvguy]

For over 25 years, I worked in jobs that allowed me to work 8 straight, or take a meal break whenever I wanted. If I didn't get time for a meal break, I could take my meal break at the end of my 8 hour shift. Or if I need to come in late, I could take my break at the start of my shift.

Well, that's illegal in California. Apparently has been for decades. The law says you MUST take a meal break, you can not work 8 straight. And the law says you can not take a meal break before you have worked 3 hours, but you must start your break no later than when you have been at work 5 hours.

I'd like to be able to waive my meal break and just put in my 8 hours and go home. What about you?

 

[ohiomom28]

For over 25 years, I worked in jobs that allowed me to work 8 straight, or take a meal break whenever I wanted. If I didn't get time for a meal break, I could take my meal break at the end of my 8 hour shift. Or if I need to come in late, I could take my break at the start of my shift.

Well, that's illegal in California. Apparently has been for decades. The law says you MUST take a meal break, you can not work 8 straight. And the law says you can not take a meal break before you have worked 3 hours, but you must start your break no later than when you have been at work 5 hours.

I'd like to be able to waive my meal break and just put in my 8 hours and go home. What about you?

I've never been allowed to work 8 straight hours and leave early, unless its been prearranged for an appointment or something.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

I work in a job where my day is often more than 8 hours a day, and is quite stressful to boot. I WANT my meal break even though there are times where the needs of the situation have me work through it. In addition to the meal aspect of it the time away from the work allows me to decompress and just have some "me" time.

 

[Planogirl]

I want my breaks and personally I'm glad that it's mandated. I know of at least one company that would be happy to not allow breaks and most people can't handle that IMO. I know that I can't in my current job.

 

[Coconut36]

I know it is mandatory for non salaried workers and I think that is a good thing as it prevents employers from abusing their employees and making them working in unpleasant working conditions as not everyone is happy with 8 straight hours with no lunch/meal. I think it is important to mandate breaks/lunches and make it illegal for workers to not have them as that is not a healthy work environment. I also think the regulations on when it must be given (no less than 3 no more than 5 hours into shift is good too..who wants to get a lunch 2 hours in and then work 6 straight hours?) It's about keeping the employer from abusing the employees IMO.

I totally get skipping it if you want to be done earlier/don't feel like you need it but if you are in a position where that is illegal (salaried employees can skip but hourly can not) that is just the nature of the job.

Prior to be a salaried employee it was my understanding that it was illegal for employees to skip breaks/lunches even if they left early/adjusted their time so it is nothing unusual/new to me to hear you must take your lunch/meal time.

ETA-Depending on the nature of the job and coverage needed it's entirely reasonable to have them scheduled at set times and not be "whenever the employee wants it" as that would create chaos and result in lack of coverage.

 

[Feralpeg]

In my 30 years in the business world, I was never in a job where I could skip a lunch break to leave early. In truth, I worked through my lunch hour more times than I can count and never left early. More often than not, I left late.

 

[tefrench]

I don't know what the law is here in Pennsylvania.

My nephew is in an hourly job. At a time of turmoil at his workplace, he often would have to work at least eight hours without a break(nobody to cover his position), and almost got sick from not eating. I tried to find out on the Pa State websites, and it's as clear as mud

They finally hired a manager and things have settled down, thankfully!

p.s. this was a retail position.

 

[EMHDad]

anytime i want

 

[ICF]

I've never been allowed to work 8 straight hours and leave early, unless its been prearranged for an appointment or something.

same here.

 

[MomRN]

Where is the option of "What's a meal break?"

Technically, in a 12.5 hour shift, we are unpaid for 30 minutes for a lunch break. In over 3 years I can count on one hand that I have been able to take the whole 30 minutes off the floor. However, since I work night shift I do have several small blocks of time that we can read or chit-chat or eat a snack at the desk. So I don't complain.

 

[Micca]

I'm kinda like tvguy. I now work at home, but in many years in regular biz I would work 8 (or more) straight through in the interest of getting to work and getting it done. Not sure that's the *best* idea, but it worked for me.

 

[bdcp]

I didn't vote, mainly because I'm a federal gov employee and we HAVE to have a 1/2 hour lunch break, whether we work through it or not if we work 5 or more hours/day. We cannot take it at the beginning or the end of the day so it can't be used as a way to come in later or leave earlier. So, while I'm paid for an 8 hour day, I'm actually at work 8.5 hours/day.

 

[dakcp2001]

As a nurse in the south I work 14 hours shifts twice a week and a 12 hour shift once a week. My company deducts (2) 30 minute breaks from my check and I am lucky if I get one. I usually get 15 -20 minutes to wolf down a sandich and I always get interuppted. I have never even one time, had 2 half hour breaks. I wish I lived in California. I have complained to my manager but there is no one to cover the clinic and I can't leave the patients alone or I could lose my license. I feel like if I complain higher up, I could lose my job over it. Oh and I am not ever allowed to leave the property so even when I have a break, it is not a break.

Ok Ill stop whining. I love my patients, I just hate being a doormat.

 

[dakcp2001]

Where is the option of "What's a meal break?"

Technically, in a 12.5 hour shift, we are unpaid for 30 minutes for a lunch break. In over 3 years I can count on one hand that I have been able to take the whole 30 minutes off the floor. However, since I work night shift I do have several small blocks of time that we can read or chit-chat or eat a snack at the desk. So I don't complain.

It must be a nurse thing. No breaks for us, boooooo!

 

[C.Ann]

I've worked 2 jobs where I could skip lunch - work right through - and leave early.. For someone like me (who didn't eat during the day anyhow) it worked out well..

But as others have mentioned here, these mandates may be in place to keep employers from abusing their employees, so I can see the validity in that as well..

Are you in CA? Or are you somewhere else that has just started this procedure?

Hope you can find a solution that works out well for you..

 

[Andtototoo]

I have to eat every four hours or so or my blood sugar drops, so I could not work in a situation where I'd have to go 8 hours without a break to sit and eat.

 

[dislal]

I couldn't vote, where I work they never give us breaks, we work 9 to 12 hours and there isn't time to sit. I don't know if it is because it is a summer seasonal job or what. I'm just glad that I only work a few more days then I'm done.

 

[aprilgail2]

I couldn't really vote- I work 8-4 but we are paid for our lunch time and breaks...so no matter what I am there for 8 hours--if I choose not to take a lunch I am still there 8 hours only now I am hungry LOL... I have never had a job where you were not paid for your lunch break and had to work and extra hour a day to make up for it...

 

[tvguy]

Where is the option of "What's a meal break?"

Technically, in a 12.5 hour shift, we are unpaid for 30 minutes for a lunch break. In over 3 years I can count on one hand that I have been able to take the whole 30 minutes off the floor. However, since I work night shift I do have several small blocks of time that we can read or chit-chat or eat a snack at the desk. So I don't complain.

I didn't get into this in my original post, but in California you have the option of taking a second meal break if your shift hits 12 hours. THAT break you can wave.

In California the meal break is mandatory for both salaried and hourly folks. But unions can negotiate anything they want. My wife works in the same industry as me, and her union contract voids the portion of the law that says you have to wait 3 hours before your break, and must start your break 5 hours after the start of your shift..
Like I said, most of my coworkers did not want the meal break. The company is just fine with required meal breaks. It has allowed them staggering our start and meal breaks times, so they could layoff one person.
I am one of 4 people that do the same job, and that extra 30 minutes we are at work because of the meal break works out to 2 hours of extra staffing that costs them nothing.

 

[Poohforyou]

For over 25 years, I worked in jobs that allowed me to work 8 straight, or take a meal break whenever I wanted. If I didn't get time for a meal break, I could take my meal break at the end of my 8 hour shift. Or if I need to come in late, I could take my break at the start of my shift.

Well, that's illegal in California. Apparently has been for decades. The law says you MUST take a meal break, you can not work 8 straight. And the law says you can not take a meal break before you have worked 3 hours, but you must start your break no later than when you have been at work 5 hours.

I'd like to be able to waive my meal break and just put in my 8 hours and go home. What about you?

It's illegal here in NJ to do that as well but it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I don't clock in/clock out and no one is checking my coming and going so I do what works for me. As long as my work gets done and I'm available when needed I don't see anyone should care that much about when or if I take a break.