No breaks (class action lawsuit)

TriciaJ, RN · Oct 22, 2011

No, but tell me how I can contribute to the legal fees. It's time to set a major precedent.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2011

There have been nurses that have filed lawsuits over no breaks when they were getting unpaid breaks deducted from their paychecks. I remember a big case at the St. Rita's Hospital in Ohio years ago, the nurses won.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2011

Nothing large scale like Walmart or Sears lawsuits. I think it's about time

http://www.lawinfo.com/fuseaction/Client.lawarea/categoryid/63

http://www.web-access.net/~aclark/frames45.htm

comidasfritas · Oct 22, 2011

There have been nurses that have filed lawsuits over no breaks when they were getting unpaid breaks deducted from their paychecks. I remember a big case at the St. Rita's Hospital in Ohio years ago, the nurses won.

That's very true nursing assisting and nurses never get breaks most the time do understaff the work hard the don't get appreciated by there work they we do I think need to be a law again this places who work the nursing assisting hard the don't consider are body how painful we feel when finish working.

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2011

I know there's been times when I jumped up from draining a foley and my head swam because my sugar was low -- no food, no time to pee, barely time to breathe.

tyvin, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2011

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=what%20is%20the%20law%20regarding%20lunch%20breaks%20and%20breaks%20while%20working%20over%208%20hiours&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CFUQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ewin.com%2Farticles%2Frestper.htm&ei=-DCjTtu5EYjbiAKnjYVx&usg=AFQjCNEXFU9fNwWKh7OeXMJ2au5G-g46Ww&sig2=Hp9U0I2PlysommqgvoNj5A

Amazingly only a hand full of states have laws pertaining to breaks and lunch breaks. If people are going to bring anything to court you will need documentation. I would start by keeping a precise journal. At work when "legal" break laws are broken or breaks contracted or negotiated per working or union contract are violated fill out an incident report. One must be proactive when this happens; does management know, is the charge aware, does someone know and is doing nothing, does it keep happening? This would have to be a chronic concern that is being ignored by the facilty therefore making the work environment unsafe to work in.

Sisyphus · Oct 22, 2011

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/10/22/1392123/nurses-sue-multicare-over-breaks.html

http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4066701.html

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Oct 22, 2011

The hospital I work for had to pay out a large sum of money in 1988 because they were deducting lunch fromo our pay, even if we didn't get one. That lead to having to sign in and out for every single break and lunch, paid and upaid and that is how they track it now so that no one can have another suit filed on those grounds.

sistasoul · Oct 22, 2011

The hospital I work for had to pay out a large sum of money in 1988 because they were deducting lunch fromo our pay, even if we didn't get one. That lead to having to sign in and out for every single break and lunch, paid and upaid and that is how they track it now so that no one can have another suit filed on those grounds.

THe hospitals are all about Covering their behinds. It is so aggravating. In the 2.5 years I have worked at a hospital I can count on one hand how many times there has been time for a lunch. We HAVE to punch in and out for lunch or we hear about it.

I have been working since I have been 11 years old and I have never not got a lunch untill I worked in a hospital. Even when I worked in a nursing home for 5 months I was able to take a lunch away from the floor.

I have also never felt like my job was on the line everyday I went to work. In 34 years of working I have NEVER been written up at work until I worked at a hospital. I am so afraid to say the wrong thing or look at someone the wrong way for fear of offending a co-worker, family member, etc...

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Oct 22, 2011

Im sorry but I take breaks now. I used to think oh god if I take a break I wont get done. Well I am sorry, but I have to take care of myself before I can take care of anyone else.

seemerun · Oct 22, 2011

I just started working on a busy orthopedic/trauma unit - been there about 1 month. Believe it or not I don't think I have seen anyone NOT take a lunch. This must have been an issue at some time in the past because they have there system worked out. You are assigned a lunch buddy and have an assigned lunch time (there is some flex with the time) and your report off to your buddy who watches your patients while you are gone. I am amazed that is is working. Literally, you go to lunch even if your patient needs something! Your buddy takes care of it. Actually, people get kind of ticked if you are late getting to lunch because it messes with when the next person can go. It never worked like this at the last hospital I worked. And everybody takes 45 minutes....I think this is because they are grouping their lunch with their 15 minutes break.