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See DOL WHD: State Labor Offices (http://www.dol.gov/esa/contacts/state_of.htm - broken link)
However, note that some states may... not knowing which state you're in, you'll need to look up what your state requirements are as shown on the following:
See DOL WHD: State Labor Laws: Minimum Length of Meal Period Requirements (http://www.dol.gov/esa/programs/whd/state/meal.htm - broken link)
and DOL WHD: State Labor Offices (http://www.dol.gov/esa/contacts/state_of.htm - broken link)
Good luck to you... hope your state is one that has them!
Yes, it is a myth that employers owe you a lunch or rest break. People say all the time that employers have to, but it depends on your state, and even then, it is hard to complain if you're not getting a break, because there is someone in line waiting for your job.
Heres what to do- next time you go to work, set an empty water bottle and a funnel on your desk. Mark it with one of those 'biohazard' stickers (make sure its large enough for the supervisor to see it). Then sit back and wait for a reaction...
I was thinking something similar.
Maybe a nice bedpan too, in case one gets the runs at work and has to use the bathroom frequently.
Whatsamatter with these places? People are human beings and they get sick.
Factory farming.
In all other respects I am a model employee but I am about to use my job for having to take a leak too often. I have to take an unschedualed bathroom break about two to three times a week. I limit my bathroom breaks to an average of about a minute and half. But for them it is too much. I am on a final warning and if I have to take a leak one more time I am gone.
Make sure you take that last leak on their desk. Getting fired for using the bathroom is pretty bad.
Typical bean counters...they don't know how to judge a quality worker, just appearances, so the person at their desk every second is the good worker, vs. the person who uses the bathroom.
My wife worked at a place with a severely regulated break policy. While there she had abdominal surgery that required her to have to use the bathroom every hour. The company got on her case and threatened to fire her. We hired a lawyer. The company eventually backed down and changed the policy before it went to court. It's sad that we even had to do this.
My wife worked at a place with a severely regulated break policy. While there she had abdominal surgery that required her to have to use the bathroom every hour. The company got on her case and threatened to fire her. We hired a lawyer. The company eventually backed down and changed the policy before it went to court. It's sad that we even had to do this.
I hope you shamed them severely. I wonder what pregnant women do...the uterus can press on the ureters causing reflux to the kidneys, hydronephrosis. Sometimes, that is alleviated by urinating.
I also wonder what women on their periods are supposed to do....
What if someone is sick and has diarrhea? Should they just go home then?
These places are becoming work mills. They are unreasonable. We need unions back, even if some don't like unions.
Yup unfortunately the law is only as good as people are willing to enforce it and people don't always have the means to do so (in fact many who are victimized are the ones who are less likely to be able to stand up for themselves). It is so sad though that people and companies will try to get away with something until they are forced through some sort of repercussion to do the right or even legal thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 11thHour
My wife worked at a place with a severely regulated break policy. While there she had abdominal surgery that required her to have to use the bathroom every hour. The company got on her case and threatened to fire her. We hired a lawyer. The company eventually backed down and changed the policy before it went to court. It's sad that we even had to do this.
This is a call center for you. They totally believe in micro-managing because they know that anyone can do your job, I used to say "a monkey could do it." I was in the call center environment for roughly 8 years. I had 3 nervous breakdowns and decided that was it, I was done. I could no longer be treated like a child.
Trust me, get your skills up in other areas and find something else.
This is a call center for you. They totally believe in micro-managing because they know that anyone can do your job, I used to say "a monkey could do it." I was in the call center environment for roughly 8 years. I had 3 nervous breakdowns and decided that was it, I was done. I could no longer be treated like a child.
Trust me, get your skills up in other areas and find something else.
I feel bad this happened to you, but I have had similar experiences. It starts to affect one physically.
I thought this was supposed to be a Judeo-Christian nation. The love of the neighbor and such. It seems like their religions preach more about love of money and self.
[quote=new2sa;2689383]Here is what the U. S. Dept. of Labor states:
See DOL WHD: State Labor Offices (http://www.dol.gov/esa/contacts/state_of.htm - broken link)
Who cares what the Dept of Labor says if it's thorough insanity!
I truly CANNOT believe that the United States of America truly passed a law that said workers do not need to eat lunch, have decent (potty) breaks. That is sick.
California has always been waaaayyy ahead of the curve, typically, for this huge country of ours. And since I've spent most of my life there, I can't relate to this problem of a company that doesn't give breaks! Why would we look up a depressing federal law if the state law is - um - sane and the insanity lies in that stupid federal "provision"?
Back on to the main subject - - -
I've worked call center sweatshops, too. You just tell yourself to go and get something with DIGNITY. Do not ever make a choice for money first - only second. Dignity has got to come first for all workers in America - can't believe some of these posts which sound like so many US employees have truly been beaten into submission. Stop that! Timing oneself in the stall is the epitome of slavery. You're not a slave so start training your brain to believe better & better things about yourself, ok? (These really grieves me.) When I read your work conditions --grrrrrr - it reallly infuriates me. Please don't further support the slave trade, work at a used bookstore or SOMEthing, sweeping for them, anything! Be with actual humans, that's one law that's allowed. (still)
"In the tempestuous ocean of time and toil there are islands of stillness where man may enter a harbor and reclaim his dignity."
Being allowed to go to the bathroom at work is a federal regulation from OSHA. No employer can tell any employee in the United States that they can't go to the bathroom when they need to. Even on an assembly line, replacement workers have to be made available to replace workers to have to go. As far as can they subtract it from break times, that probably is up to state law on rest breaks. But if they try to say you can't go to the bathroom at all, call your local OSHA office and file an official complaint. You can tell OSHA you don't want them to give your name to your employer. OSHA will call and tell them they have to allow employees to go to the bathroom whenever they want to. If they still don't, call OSHA back and they will come there in person and probably fine them. Once you call OSHA, they take over. That is what they are there for. So if anyone is being told they can't go or to wait a really long time before being allowed to go, stand up for your rights as a human being and call OSHA. This is one of the things that seperates us from third-world sweatshops.
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