"We don't get a 1/2 lunch. they give us a 10 min break every 2 hours..."

[diabeticman]

What is wrong with this country where a person can't get a 1/2 to eat lunch. My friend is working for a staffing company (That's another thing: all companies in my are hiring through staffing agencies as indefinite temps) So after being out of work for 7 months My friend took a job in a warehouse like setting getting practice kits together and insurance catalog anyways they can't sit down to do any of the work and they don't give a 1/2 lunch. because it took too long to punch out so here are these people rushing to the lunch room every 2 hours to get a few bites of food and all this because it pays a whole whopping $1.75 above min wage.

[Agschmid]

1. What state?

[diabeticman]

3. Pennsylvania

[Agschmid]

7. Wow... What crap.

Pennsylvania labor laws require employers to provide a thirty (30) minute break period to employees ages fourteen (14) through seventeen (17) who work five (5) or more consecutive hours. Pennsylvania Stat. 43:40.3(a).

Employers are not required to provide breaks to employees eighteen (18) and over. PA Dept. of Labor: Wage and Hour FAQs. If an employer chooses to provide a break and it lasts less than twenty (20) minutes, it must be paid. If an employer provides a meal period, it does not need to be paid if the employee does not work during the meal period and it lasts more than twenty (20) minutes. Pennsylvania Code 231.1

[haikugal]

2. Treating people like robots for the bottom line.

Keep them hungry so they accept the unacceptable. Disgusting. Aren't there labor laws against this kind of thing in this country?

[diabeticman]

5. You think but let's just say labor laws means crap now at days especially when people are in need of

a job

[GummyBearz]

13. But but

The gov is saying unemployment is very low! This economy is fantastic! Everything is sunshine and lollipops!

[Brickbat]

4. Because people don't need unions, we keep hearing.

[JI7]

8. regardless there should be laws in place

In california there are.

[Ilsa]

6. Doesn't the law require a 30 minute break

For an 8+ hour day?

[Agschmid]

9. Nope apparently not in PA.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027086855#post7

Source: http://www.employmentlawhandbook.com/wage-and-hour-laws/state-wage-and-hour-laws/pennsylvania/#3

[yeoman6987]

15. It seems they give 40 minutes throughout the day.

I am not sure which I'd rather have to be honest. A nice break every 2 hours or one break at 4 hours. Not sure which I'd want.

[awoke_in_2003]

16. Laws mean squat

when the enforcement arms are chronically underfunded. The NLRB is a pale tiger these days.

[Agschmid]

10. My company policy regardless of state policy (unless the state policy is "better")...

Less than 5 hours (15m Paid Break)
5-7.99 Hours (15m Paid Break + 30 Unpaid Meal)
8+ Hours (15m Paid Break + 60 Unpaid Meal +15m Paid Break)

Employees are NOT allowed to work 10+ hours.

[diabeticman]

11. nice company

[Agschmid]

12. Yup.

6 weeks paid vacation after 10 years too.

I don't complain much.

There are some good companies out there.

[diabeticman]

14. Can I ask. I'll respect if you don't

[onyourleft]

17. I have truly never...

...understood the reason behind not allowing people to sit to do their work. If one must stand to speak to the public, that is one thing. However, if you have to stand to put kits together, stuff envelopes, etc., then I don't understand.

[Facility Inspector]

19. If you can control the body

you can control the mind.

[Facility Inspector]

18. What's lunch?

there's too much shit to be done.