I work the 7-3 shift as a CNA at an assisted living facility. Lunch is served for the residents at 12:30pm and we serve them restaurant style and clean up when they are done eating.
After this time, around 2pm, a few CNA's and I prefer to take our lunch break. I've been working here for a little over a year and I always take my lunch break at 2pm after all the work in the dining room is done. No one has ever had a problem with it and I assumed it was OK because the Med tech and dietary staff and manager and front office people also take their break at this time.
In fact, most people take their break at this time because, obviously, this is the only time food is served and, obviously, people like to eat lunch on their lunch break. As far as I know, the manager and the people who work at the front office (The "higher up's") are the only ones allowed to leave work place premises to get lunch.
CNA's can never leave work (not even walk across the street to pick up a quick order) and I understand that because we must be here just in case the residents need help.
However, now they are enforcing a rule were we (just the CNA's) must take our lunch break around 10am and 11am, or basically spread out our lunch times because they do not want us all to take our lunch at the same time (2pm). Since most of us prefer to take our lunch at this time, there is no one working the floor to help the residents if they need help (except the front office, the nurse, CNA supervisor, Med tech and a few other people... That is, if they aren't taking their break at 2pm too ).
While I completely understand this and think it's ridiculous that there is no one to respond for the 30 minutes we are on break (unless the higher up's or Med tech was willing to help), I also think it's ridiculous that they expect us to take our lunch break at a time when there is no food while everyone else who works here have the privilege to go get McDonald's if they want to or have lunch past 12:30pm (the only time lunch is served). So they expect is to just sit in the break room for 30 minutes without food or bring our own lunch.
Something about this seems unfair and I am not happy. Is this normal or am I overreacting?
