Employee Lunchbreak

[AnonaMoss]

A good friend of mine works for a small novelty shop that operates for nine hours per day. Most times she works at the shop alone (except for when there is an event that will cause the shop to be too much to handle alone). Here's the problem - she doesn't get an official lunch where she can clock out, and have thirty minutes to an hour to herself. She has to eat her lunch in the store next to the cash register, and gets interrupted constantly by customers while she eating. Thirty minutes is deducted from her day even though she's not getting a real lunch. My opinion is that she should be allowed to close the store for thirty minutes so that she can sit down, relax and have her meal to herself. It just seems very unfair for a worker to work nine hours without a real moment to themselves. Even when she goes to the restroom, she has to hurry so that the store won't be unattended to. I just think it's a very strange system. What is your take on this?

[melissa]

It may just be me but I'm pretty sure thats totally illegal. In Canada it would be anyways. Usually if a business isn't busy enough for two staff to be working then the shifts would be cut in half between two people. The max hours you can work in Canada without being given an official break is 5 . Im assuming its a small business so there is no HR to report to, however she can talk to her boss about maybe hiring a second staff. If he doesn't agree I suggest she find another job.

I also don't agree with the fact that they are deducting 30 minutes from her pay when she doesn't get a break. That is also illegal might I add.

[thewebmiss]

That is certainly not right. The employee must discuss with her boss that she has formal and paid working hours and the deducted time for meals shall be correctly assumed. And even though she is permitted to take her lumch and delay the operations, it is still inevitable for her to be disturbed because she is the only employee watching for the store. The employer must take into comsiderations the number of employee necessary to suffice business hour, no matter how they wanted to cost-cut.

[tosaytheleast]

I also think that it isn't right and I think she could make an appeal on the owner of the shop first. Maybe she is not complaining about it that's why her boss is just letting things what they are usually. I think she has the right to demand a 30-60 minutes break.

[AnonaMoss]

It may just be me but I'm pretty sure thats totally illegal. In Canada it would be anyways. Usually if a business isn't busy enough for two staff to be working then the shifts would be cut in half between two people. The max hours you can work in Canada without being given an official break is 5 . Im assuming its a small business so there is no HR to report to, however she can talk to her boss about maybe hiring a second staff. If he doesn't agree I suggest she find another job.

I also don't agree with the fact that they are deducting 30 minutes from her pay when she doesn't get a break. That is also illegal might I add.

I think you've nailed the problem on the head. She told me that the mall that the novelty shop is located in charges a fine to stores that close down or are late opening. The shifts should be split between workers. I think that he's either trying to save money on parking validation for his employees or he wants everyone to get a full day. Either way, it's a bit unreasonable since employees look forward to their breaks.

[KNH]

I agree with the above posters, that is illegal! She needs a break. That is a long day to work on her own and 30 minutes to eat or just sit is more than necessary. Why don't they have another worker?

[Parker]

I'm don't know where the store is located. In the US, this is very illegal. Very illegal. There are break and lunch requirements depending on the length of the workday.

[mimi8zm]

I think everyone is agreeing that this is not humane. Everyone should be entitled to a REAL break during their work day. I'm sure there is a certain interval during the day when there aren't any customers. Has your friend tried asking the store owner for a proper break?

[Microsuck]

In the U.S., all employees are legally entitled to a 30-minute break everyday.

[bryce12]

That sounds awful and I can't even imagine how she manages to bear this inhumane treatment day after day. I think she should talk to the owner and ask for a 30 minute lunch break. If the owner doesn't respond in a positive manner, she can start looking for a job elsewhere.