puching out 'no break'

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I work on an EXTREMELY busy unit, many people quit/high turnover/but big unit. Anyway, I am new, too, but never get a lunch break. Maybe can get 10 minutes in. If I took a lunch break, I wouldnt get some things done. I stay late as it is.

there was a memo recently to not punch out like this. Thoughts?

Specializes in Geriatrics/Family Practice.

The LTC facility that I just started working at is very short staffed (not uncommon), but I never get a lunch and I may get 2 minutes to run and have a cigarette twice during my shift. I don't constitute that as a lunch but a very small break. I never get to eat and if I leave the unit and if I did for much more than two minutes God only knows what would happen. I have 35 residents (not the easiest, 6 tubefeeders, 11 hoyers lifts, and almost all are completes). I usually have 2 CNA's, you tell me whether or not they are getting good care. So anyway, I approached the payroll dept to tell them that I don't take lunches or more than a two minute break and I said "Do I get paid for this?" They said "No". I told them that fine, you can either pay me for the 1/2 hr overtime during my shift for not taking a lunch or even longer over time at the end of the shift while I play catch up. They did finally agree that if I sign a punch sheet and have a supervisor sign it that I will get paid for my lunches. I'm sorry, but if the facility knows its very short staffed how would I even be able to justify a lunch when people are wet, hungry, need their meds (I'm always behind on med pass due to chaos breaking loose). The weird thing is that this facility so kindly takes it upon themselves to deduct your 1/2 hour lunch without you even punching out. If I'm working, you're paying me for it. I don't bust my butt for free. I don't know if other nurses just except this, but I won't and didn't. When I asked about it originally they acted like it was a totally new concept, so I think other nurses just don't get paid even though I know most of them work through there lunches, except for the few that do what they need to do and no more.

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When I asked about it originally they acted like it was a totally new concept, so I think other nurses just don't get paid even though I know most of them work through there lunches, except for the few that do what they need to do and no more.
Don't kid yourself. They know the law, and know it well.
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There is no Federal law on either break or meal periods! Honestly.....look here!

17 STATES have meal laws and only 8 STATES have break laws, but that's it!

click here ---> Lunch and Breaks

It's horrible! I have experienced so much abuse with meals/breaks within Nursing. I've had numerous other jobs prior to Nursing and NEVER encountered problems with breaks, lunches or OT.

Hmmm.... according to that website, in my state, employees must receive a 30-minute meal break after 6 hours worked. And yet, 11-7 nurses at my facility do not get a break??????

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I'll tell nurses that I know didn't get lunch to sign that they didn't, and there's always the excuses, "Well I could have if I'd wanted to." Which sadly, I know that I have done. Or, 'I just need to organize my time better." But as long as we let the employers guilt us into working for free, why wouldn't they take advantage? 30 minutes of free labor each day times the number of employees they have? That's a huge payroll savings!

The other day I'd planned to get my lunch, then the respiratory therapist came and asked if I'd help with a trach change after he finished a treatment in another room. At first I said sure, but then I looked at what else I had to do, and I'd have had antibiotics going off in all my rooms in the middle of lunch if I waited. So I told him I was going to go ahead and eat, and he says, "How long will it take you?" "Ummmm, 30 uninterrupted minutes." He was actually surprised that a nurse would take 30 minutes to go eat! (And I know that the RTs take their lunches.)

It really is only nurses that are expected to work off the clock without lunch or a break. Don't let the guilt trip of "You need to organize your time better" get to you. One colleague of mine did the work for free game, and STILL got on her evaluation that she needs to make sure to take time for lunch. Hmmmm, come to think of it, THAT combined with her timesheets would be some interesting evidence for the DOL!

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I'll tell nurses that I know didn't get lunch to sign that they didn't, and there's always the excuses, "Well I could have if I'd wanted to." Which sadly, I know that I have done. Or, 'I just need to organize my time better." But as long as we let the employers guilt us into working for free, why wouldn't they take advantage? 30 minutes of free labor each day times the number of employees they have? That's a huge payroll savings!

It really is only nurses that are expected to work off the clock without lunch or a break. Don't let the guilt trip of "You need to organize your time better" get to you. One colleague of mine did the work for free game, and STILL got on her evaluation that she needs to make sure to take time for lunch.

And many of these nurses are the same ones who whine about being abused by their employers. Like I said on another thread, I'm beginning to wonder if we don't deserve it. At some point, you stop being a victim and become a volunteer.
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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

YIKES....sorry. I thought we were discussing MISSED breaks and meals during a work shift, not total time worked on the shift.

Disregard the link regarding meal/break times that I provided in my previous post if it is misleading or incorrect.

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YIKES....sorry. I thought we were discussing MISSED breaks and meals during a work shift, not total time worked on the shift.
We are; those missed meals increase the total time worked for which you need to be compensated.
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And many of these nurses are the same ones who whine about being abused by their employers. Like I said on another thread, I'm beginning to wonder if we don't deserve it. At some point, you stop being a victim and become a volunteer.

Agreed. Like the old saying goes, "You teach people how to treat you." Let an employer treat you like crap and many will.

Employers know the law, but many won't enforce it unless forced to do so. It's disgusting but true. You aren't there to work for free.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.
I work on an EXTREMELY busy unit, many people quit/high turnover/but big unit. Anyway, I am new, too, but never get a lunch break. Maybe can get 10 minutes in. If I took a lunch break, I wouldnt get some things done. I stay late as it is.

there was a memo recently to not punch out like this. Thoughts?

Take your break. The full break allotted to you by facility policy and procedure. Your facility should not get labor from you that they are not paying for, so don't give it to them.

Since you are new, I'll give you this piece of advice. Look out for yourself first. Your hospital won't, your unit won't and your union won't (unless it benefits them). Your patients need you to be at your best. Well rested, not hungry and certainly with an empty bladder. Take care of yourself. It's key to putting off burnout for as long as possible. We need you.

Blee

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punched out today with no lunch. ran down to the cafeteria and wolfed down my lunch in less than 15 minutes same thing happened yesterday which was a 12 1

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punched out today no lunch and ran to the cafeteria grabbed some food and wolfed it down in less than 15 minutes did the same yesterday which was a 12 hour shift team lead with 5 patients so yesterday I swiped out as usual today I was team lead and monitor tech staffing was terrible this weekend. The phone was ringing non stop. I have worked at my job for 2.5 years and this is only the second time but, I feel if nurses always gave away thier lunchtime it only fattens someone elses pocket. So if they dont want you to swipe no lunch then they have to deal with staff staying over. If the ratios were fair then the nurses wouldnt stay over.

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.
We are; those missed meals increase the total time worked for which you need to be compensated.

Right, I get that. I was just posting those stats to show that meal breaks and short breaks are not mandated Federally.

I hear people all the time stating how it is a persons "right" to a meal break and/or that are entitled to a 10 minute break and that is just not true. They are entitled to their pay though for their time.

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