Isn't this illegal? (my new job)

[CityBoyGoneCountry]

First of all, let me just say, I DO NOT have any intentions of quitting my job, no matter how bullshit it is, because I need the money and it's the best paying job I've ever had in my life.

But check this out...

I work 10 hour days. I get 30 minutes for lunch, and a 10 minute break in the afternoon, and that's it. This is my schedule:

7:00 a.m. - start work
11:15 a.m. - 30 minute lunch
3:00 p.m. - 10 minute break
5:30 p.m. - end work

Is this, or is this not, bullshit?

[tootsie roll]

As far as I recall, in the USA, for an 8 hour day, worker gets one 30 minute lunch break and two 15 minute breaks.
What kind of job do you have?

[bobmarleyjr.]

eh that sounds fine to me but i think they should make the break 30 min.

[go toke up]

shit... oh well at least u gotta job.

[Sig]

Don't complain man. you gotta job. a lot of people don;t. You know how many breaks waiters and waitresses get? NONE. You ever work construction? a 10 hour day, while above the norm, is NOT a long day.

[Zohar]

Depends on your state, but that is mostly leagal. For working 8 hours, you must get a 1/2 hour lunch break and at least two 15 minute breaks. Sounds to me like you have 40 / 60 minutes, no big deal.

Make sure you get overtime pay (usually 1.5 x Time over 8hrs) for the time over 8hrs.

[orangeman]

I don't get the illegal part :p.

[partyguy420]

Don't complain man. you gotta job. a lot of people don;t. You know how many breaks waiters and waitresses get? NONE. You ever work construction? a 10 hour day, while above the norm, is NOT a long day.

10 hours for consturction is actualy short... i used to help this guy, and we were pulling 12 hour shifts... and that was with only 30 minute lunch breaks... and then we would quit hamering long enuf to light up a smoke while climbing down the ladder to get more nails or some tool... so its not all bad... you got it good.. compared to what we were doing...

[Pot_Duster]

If you are going to work for someone else you'll have to put up with some crap. Just remember whatever you do for someone else you can make an additional 50% pay and make your own breaks being a subcontractor performing the same task. Everybody thinks that they should get a job but thats bullshit horse-hockey, what you really need is the knowledge and balls to sell your own services. I figured one of the best feelings you'll ever have is when you tell your employer, "Fuck you! I can do better! Stick your job up your ass where it belongs! Goodbye!"

[CityBoyGoneCountry]

What kind of job do you have?

I'm a welder.

Hey, I don't mind working a 10 hour day. In fact, I prefer it that way because I get a 3 day weekend every week. I'm still only working 40 hours a week, but in 4 days.

But I've always been told you are supposed to get more break time than that. Have motherfuckers gotten so greedy they won't give a man 15 minutes to get off his feet and regain some energy?

[tootsie roll]

I'm a welder.

Hey, I don't mind working a 10 hour day. In fact, I prefer it that way because I get a 3 day weekend every week. I'm still only working 40 hours a week, but in 4 days.

But I've always been told you are supposed to get more break time than that. Have motherfuckers gotten so greedy they won't give a man 15 minutes to get off his feet and regain some energy?


Yep, they've gotten that greedy. You do have a pretty decent deal tho with 3 day weekends BUT, you really are entitled to more then a 30 minute lunch and one 10 minute break. My husband welds (not for a living) and I've tried it and in my opinion, you need more of a break from those flying sparks.
If you work for a small private company, just ask if you can get another break or take an extra stretch once in a while, grab a cold soda or hide in the bathroom and regroup. If you have decent bosses it helps.

[cannabis campbell]

Some people would see that as a good thing lol

ermm i dont think its illegal but not 100% sure about the US

anyway at least you got a job :(

[partyguy420]

I'm a welder.

Hey, I don't mind working a 10 hour day. In fact, I prefer it that way because I get a 3 day weekend every week. I'm still only working 40 hours a week, but in 4 days.

But I've always been told you are supposed to get more break time than that. Have motherfuckers gotten so greedy they won't give a man 15 minutes to get off his feet and regain some energy?

ohh welder... i finaly got to use an oxy accetilin cutter on friday... that was sweet as honey....

[Markass]

ohh welder... i finaly got to use an oxy accetilin cutter on friday... that was sweet as honey....

I've seen a lot of trippy ass avatars on this website, but I think yours wins..I'll be back to visit this thread when I finish smoking :stoned:

[CityBoyGoneCountry]

My husband welds (not for a living) and I've tried it and in my opinion, you need more of a break from those flying sparks.

The sparks don't bother me too much anymore. They used to when I was taking welding classes at the college. I caught my shirt on fire about 3 times and ruined more than a few pairs of pants. But I keep myself pretty well covered up. I have insulated cover-alls, leather boots, gloves, and a hood. I still catch a hot one on top of my head once in a while, but they've become a minor nuisance.

The difficulty of my job is the same as many other jobs. I'm always on my feet, I'm kneeling, bending, reaching, lifting. I'm hot. I'm always getting arc flashes from the welders around me. And I'm being pressured to keep a fast and steady pace, while at the same time producing quality welds.

It's hard.

[birdgirl73]

That sounds hard, CityBoy. I applaud you for doing that sort of work and enduring that. I wish you were able to take the breaks you're entitled to, too, for your safety and health. I think I remember reading that U.S. Department of Labor guidelines say pretty much exactly what Tootsie said earlier: Employers are supposed to provide a lunch break of 30 minutes or more--and a 10-minute break additionally for every four hours you work. Those guidelines, if I'm not mistaken, are applicable to employers/businesses of more than a certain size, but I'm not sure what that size is. The thinking is that, say, a small four-man firm couldn't afford always to go by those DoL guidelines and stay afloat.

As is mostly the case in the U.S., employers can really do whatever they want, especially in a so-called Right to Work state (as opposed to a union-stronghold state). There's not really any enforcement of DoL standards. So employers don't really have to fear not giving employees their proper due of break and lunch time. The only danger would be if an employee filed a complaint with the DoL, which is a fairly common occurrence. Employers can sometimes be fined or forced to pay employees for that over-worked past time. Still, an official complaint often ends up getting the complainant fired in the end. Or at least targeted as a troublemaker till he leaves on his own.

The subject of time on and time off interests me, both as a former corporate professional and as a future doctor. I know they're starting to set more limits about on-duty time for interns and residents as a matter of patient safety, and so I'm hoping the 36-hours on-duty-time followed by only 12 or, at the max, 24 hours off will be a thing of the past by the time I get to that point.

Good luck with your job, CityBoy!

[Cyclonite]

I work in maintenance, I weld fabricate ect ect....we are on call all the time sometimes I get a 10 min lunch and that's it for the day, other days I get allot of chill time. It depends on the needs of the plant, normally you should get 30min lunch and 2 15 min breaks but some jobs have special needs.

[RedLocks]

i used to work 13 hr a day, no breaks only a lunch, well no.. "official" break ;) noo legal but hell, if ya getting paid in cash ur not legal either ;)

[dryst]

i used to work 2 full time jobs...
it worked out so i worked 7 days a week but on 2 of the days i only worked 1 job...and all i did for those 2 months i worked was work and sleep...i didnt even have enough time to spend the fuckin money i was making :o

[CityBoyGoneCountry]

It's not a small company I work for. In fact, I work for 2 companies. The building I am in has about 50 employees, and we are a division of an even larger company. We build trailers that can sell for up to $30,000 each, and we push out about 10 a day.

It's pure greed that prevents them from giving us a break, not necessity. The boss spends all day sitting in the office counting his money.

[PaRaNoIa]

That's nothing..

I've worked 13 hour days and 15 min lunch break.. Nothing else.

[Breukelen advocaat]

You could try to unionize the employees - but it's difficult these days Maybe contact a local and see if it's viable.

[midlifecrisis]

Yeah that greedy jerk!.....you should show him by starting your own company, pay everyone above average wages, give them long lunches, 2 maybe 3 breaks a day....then everyone can get together at the end of the day and count all the money they have made......that should only take oh, ten years or so of your life and reinvesting all of your money back into the company, paying your overworked employees before you pay your bills, Oh yeah don't forget about taxes.....Payroll taxes, sales tax, year end tax (paid quarterly).

Don't get me wrong there are bad companies out there, but there are plenty of good ones too...If you feel you are ENTITLED to a job with good pay and benefits then move to a communist country, perhaps France...

Otherwise work hard and don't let yourself be taken advantage of...never forget to interview the company you wish to work for, don't just let them interview you....if you know what you want then go get it, and don't be surprised if you have to work for it.....

[dryst]

move to a communist country, perhaps France...


...no comment....

[thcbongman]

Why don't you talk to your boss? The worst he could do is say no. If you can convince him that an extra break for everybody would boost productivity, he would have a hard time saying no, unless he's a total jackass.

[Nochowderforyou]

First of all, let me just say, I DO NOT have any intentions of quitting my job, no matter how bullshit it is, because I need the money and it's the best paying job I've ever had in my life.

But check this out...

I work 10 hour days. I get 30 minutes for lunch, and a 10 minute break in the afternoon, and that's it. This is my schedule:

7:00 a.m. - start work
11:15 a.m. - 30 minute lunch
3:00 p.m. - 10 minute break
5:30 p.m. - end work

Is this, or is this not, bullshit?

I know this may have been answered as I didn't read through the thread, but yes, that is complete BS. In an 8hr day, you are allowed at least 2 15min breaks, and one 30min lunch break. You should be getting a break every 2 hrs or so.

They are working your ass. That's 4hrs and 15min you work in the morning before you get a break and that is against the law.

Your hours should be something like this:

7am-9:15am: 15min break
9:30-12pm: 30 min lunch break
12:30pm-2:45: 15 min
3:00-5:30: end work

It should look something along those lines. Tell your boss to follow the law and give you the breaks you deserve. 4hrs first thing in the morning is a long stretch, and I'd tell him to fuck off that I'm taking a break at 9:15 or so.

[IntrepidS]

My friend is 19 or 20 and he works similar hours and he makes more than most people his age ($26/hr) but he has a lot of freedom at his job.

[chisme]

eating early int he day the not eating again untill late at night when you probably get home is very bad for you im living proof my wrk was getting me to eat my lunch at 11:30am and it gave me a stomach ulcer...the doctor said she'd never seem symptoms like mine in someone as young as me...20

[CityBoyGoneCountry]

Yeah that greedy jerk!.....you should show him by starting your own company, pay everyone above average wages, give them long lunches, 2 maybe 3 breaks a day....then everyone can get together at the end of the day and count all the money they have made......that should only take oh, ten years or so of your life and reinvesting all of your money back into the company, paying your overworked employees before you pay your bills, Oh yeah don't forget about taxes.....Payroll taxes, sales tax, year end tax (paid quarterly).

I'm sorry, but if the owner of the company is a multi-millionaire, I'm not about to feel the least bit guilty about wanting 15 minutes to rest my feet.

People like you expect everyone else to make sacrifices, but you are unwilling to make a small 15 minute sacrifice for the employees who do work so hard for you all day long.

You can kiss my ass.

[midlifecrisis]

I'm sorry, but if the owner of the company is a multi-millionaire, I'm not about to feel the least bit guilty about wanting 15 minutes to rest my feet.

People like you expect everyone else to make sacrifices, but you are unwilling to make a small 15 minute sacrifice for the employees who do work so hard for you all day long.

You can kiss my ass.

Ummmm, no thanks on the ass offer....However, you did accept the position knowing the hours, correct? It may be BOGUS that you only get 1 break plus lunch but that is why one should not judge a job by it's pay rate only. The point I was trying to make was that it is not so easy to start and maintain a business and yes there are many jerks that own companies but there are also decent employers. I believe it is up to the individual to seek out these companies....
As an employer myself I have noticed a growing sentiment of entitlement especially among the young....perhaps the title "is this illegal" that got me going...I believe in loyalty that is earned and rewarded from both parties involed....and yes I do give my employees 2 breaks and a lunch and that's in an 8 hour day....and no drug testing.

If your boss is that rich and arrogant, then I would not expect the idea of an extra break to go over to well....

no need to kiss my ass.:smokin:

[CityBoyGoneCountry]

I don't complain at work. I do what I'm told to do, and I keep my mouth shut, and I earn every damn penny I make. Then I go home and vent my true feelings on the internet where I am not in danger of losing my job.

I applied for dozens of jobs at dozens of companies. This is the one that hired me. I, too, have bills to pay. So I took the job I could get. Your notion of only accepting the perfect job is a nice fantasy, but not applicable in the real world.

I know it's hard to start a business. I'm trying to do it. Besides being a welder for 40 hours a week, I'm also a farmer. I'm trying to start a plant nursery. I'm not getting any help from the bank. I'm not getting any help from family or friends. I'm doing everything on my own. I work real fuckin hard, and I'm sick and tired of people saying if you're not rich it's because you're lazy.

All I'm asking for is 15 fuckin minutes to sit down. Is that so unreasonable?

[S.P.Q.R.]

woah woah wait, it's illegal to NOT give you breaks?.. I feel used now

Here's my schedule;

10am start work
8pm end work

No breaks at all.. none of us there get them.

Also, don't know if this is important but it's not a union job.

[suhl]

i think it varies from state to state but legally they just need to give a half hour break for every 8 hours worked here

[bruce]

i agree u should get an hour a day when u work over 8 hours. i've always worked long days n thats th way it goes. 1 half hour n 2 15 min breaks.

[Cyclonite]

The people to talk to would be the labor board.

[tootsie roll]

That sounds hard, CityBoy. I applaud you for doing that sort of work and enduring that. I wish you were able to take the breaks you're entitled to, too, for your safety and health. I think I remember reading that U.S. Department of Labor guidelines say pretty much exactly what Tootsie said earlier: Employers are supposed to provide a lunch break of 30 minutes or more--and a 10-minute break additionally for every four hours you work. Those guidelines, if I'm not mistaken, are applicable to employers/businesses of more than a certain size, but I'm not sure what that size is. The thinking is that, say, a small four-man firm couldn't afford always to go by those DoL guidelines and stay afloat.

As is mostly the case in the U.S., employers can really do whatever they want, especially in a so-called Right to Work state (as opposed to a union-stronghold state). There's not really any enforcement of DoL standards. So employers don't really have to fear not giving employees their proper due of break and lunch time. The only danger would be if an employee filed a complaint with the DoL, which is a fairly common occurrence. Employers can sometimes be fined or forced to pay employees for that over-worked past time. Still, an official complaint often ends up getting the complainant fired in the end. Or at least targeted as a troublemaker till he leaves on his own.

The subject of time on and time off interests me, both as a former corporate professional and as a future doctor. I know they're starting to set more limits about on-duty time for interns and residents as a matter of patient safety, and so I'm hoping the 36-hours on-duty-time followed by only 12 or, at the max, 24 hours off will be a thing of the past by the time I get to that point.

Good luck with your job, CityBoy!

Once you finish med school and begin your adventure, you won't be getting many breaks either. Remember to always load your locker with goodies.:)
Yup 36 on/ 12off.....what fun. oy
Hey, how does The UofI at Chicago sound to ya?:D

[tootsie roll]

It's not a small company I work for. In fact, I work for 2 companies. The building I am in has about 50 employees, and we are a division of an even larger company. We build trailers that can sell for up to $30,000 each, and we push out about 10 a day.

It's pure greed that prevents them from giving us a break, not necessity. The boss spends all day sitting in the office counting his money.

Well hells bells "Country boy", is there a Union involved there? If not, you guys can initiate one.
Unions Rawk! Hubby is Union and it's teriffic!:thumbsup:

[JohhnyPotSmoker]

The Law States every 4 hours of workin the employer MUST give their employes working a 30 minutes break, or at least thats what i was told by my boss

[tootsie roll]

The Law States every 4 hours of workin the employer MUST give their employes working a 30 minutes break, or at least thats what i was told by my boss

Yep and that's why for every 8 hour day a worker should get 2-15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch.
That works out to 30 minutes every 4 hours.:)

[Unregistered Felon]

First of all, let me just say, I DO NOT have any intentions of quitting my job, no matter how bullshit it is, because I need the money and it's the best paying job I've ever had in my life.

But check this out...

I work 10 hour days. I get 30 minutes for lunch, and a 10 minute break in the afternoon, and that's it. This is my schedule:

7:00 a.m. - start work
11:15 a.m. - 30 minute lunch
3:00 p.m. - 10 minute break
5:30 p.m. - end work

Is this, or is this not, bullshit?



Dude O.S.H.A. requires that you get 2 15 minute breaks and 1 30 minute break everyday....

That the law nationwide in the U.S.

Having said that I wouldn't say a thing to the boss or anyone else..

I worked for an asshole like that he only let us have 1 30 minute lunch break daily..

I would just drop my tools and take a "15 minute shit" everyday at 10 am and another at 2 pm..

They can't fire ya for being "regular"

Good luck..

Felon