NO LUNCH - page 2
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Jan 15 by Sassy5dI can count on my hand how many times Iget no lunch. Actually sitting down and eating real food would be nice. We're not allowed to report no lunch. -
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Jan 15 by ChristineNQuote from Sassy5dUm I don't think they are legally allowed to tell you not to report no lunch.I can count on my hand how many times Iget no lunch. Actually sitting down and eating real food would be nice. We're not allowed to report no lunch.hiddencatRN and kogafietsen like this. - Jan 15 by Sassy5dQuote from ChristineNSorry, I'll clarify. We are told we HAVE to take a lunch, we can't report no lunch. But they know as well as I and from the postings, many other places, there's just about no way to actually remove yourself off the ER floor for 30 minutes and 2 15's or whatever you should be doing in 12 hours.
Um I don't think they are legally allowed to tell you not to report no lunch.
The patients just keep on a coming, in every section. There's no real way to cover assignments. -
Jan 15 by KelRN215If you do not get a lunch break and you are an hourly employee, the law requires that your employer compensate you for this time. Several hospitals in my city/state have lost multimillion dollar lawsuits over this:
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/arti...ZINE/101119945kogafietsen likes this. -
Jan 16 by WildflowerRNQuote from prmenrsAgreed. It does violate labor laws in certain states.Management has no idea what REAL $$$ this could cost them. ER personnel have gone to the Dep't of Labor w/just that complaint. Result: feds and state came in, fined the hospital a LOT of money; people were compensated for their missed breaks, and the managers found ways to get people out on breaks.
This actually happened @ a local hospital. You (and the people you work w/) have to willing to file a grievance, and do some homework w/a lawyer re: labor laws and such, but you have a very legitimate complaint, and, if you want it to change, you can do something about it.
Best of Luck! - Asst. Admin
Jan 16 by Esme12While we cannot offer legal advice here at AN......there are laws that govern breaks during working hours. Those laws do not talk about the provision of an actual lunch......they do talk about the provision of breaks. Those federal laws are also modified by state laws that very state to state. It will also depend on if your lunch is paid or unpaid before any "laws are broken. I will also be the voice of caution about fighting the "right" fight.....for administrations do not "like" dissonance. The right path isn't always an easy one to travel....pick your battles wisely, especially in this job climate.
Unfortunately this is al too true for many departments where nurses work. Is it right? NO. Is it common? unfortunately yes.....sigh -
Jan 16 by hiddencatRNQuote from Sassy5dUPenn recently settled a major class action suit with ER workers on this very issue. They were telling everyone they had to take a break and making it the staff person's fault if they couldn't get a lunch, thereby seriously discouraging "no lunch" claims, and yet not providing staffing or support to actually take lunch breaks. They paid out back lunches over a period of several years to everyone in the department, which added up to a decent amount of cash depending on how long you'd been there. There's more support to take lunches now and if you can't you don't get grief in the same way for claiming "no lunch."Sorry, I'll clarify. We are told we HAVE to take a lunch, we can't report no lunch. But they know as well as I and from the postings, many other places, there's just about no way to actually remove yourself off the ER floor for 30 minutes and 2 15's or whatever you should be doing in 12 hours.
The patients just keep on a coming, in every section. There's no real way to cover assignments.
Just saying. It's common, it's illegal, but organized pushback from employees does actually make a difference. *Edited to add* But that's the key- it is not something you can fight on your own. You want to be a face in the crowd, not a ringleader.