How often do you use the "cancel meal deduction" option before clocking out?
During our employee orientation, the HR rep talked to us specifically about taking advantage of this. She said: "even if someone asks you a question while you are on your break, cancel your meal deduction-because your break was interrupted."
There's probably 1/5 or 1/6 shifts that I actually have time to take a 30 minute break. The rest, like most of us, I just work straight through, thirsty and starved with a full bladder.
Are you recouping with the "cancel meal deduction"?
Does your employer even offer that as an option?
I am glad that mine does- I cancel my meal deduction at least once a week. I try to use it sparingly- if I eat an "entree" at the desk, I consider that "time for a meal" and do not cancel.
I am just wary of if/when they will try to say that I am using it too often...
Most of the nurses I work with don't have the balls to do it. They work through their lunch breaks, day in and day out, without compensation.
I am baffled that labor laws do not apply to the nursing profession.
But they do. If you are an hourly employee, you have to be given an uninterrupted meal break. If you have to spend any of it doing work related duties you get paid.
I worked nights on a GeroPsych unit, where it was a CNA and 1 RN. I never got to take an actual 30 minute lunch break because I couldn't leave the unit, and was needed for phone calls, PRNs, etc.
I would put "no lunch" on my time card every night. I also contacted the Labor Board and they sent me the information, because I knew someone was going to challenge it eventually.
Sure enough, at one staff meeting, the pissant little Director got up in my face and started screaming "You will NOT put no lunch on your time card! That stops NOW!!"
I calmly stood up, handed him a copy of the statute that the Labor Board had sent me and said, "If this is unclear, I'm sure a representative from the Labor Board would be more than willing to come here and explain it to you."
Jensmom7, BSN, RN
1,907 Posts
But they do. If you are an hourly employee, you have to be given an uninterrupted meal break. If you have to spend any of it doing work related duties you get paid.
I worked nights on a GeroPsych unit, where it was a CNA and 1 RN. I never got to take an actual 30 minute lunch break because I couldn't leave the unit, and was needed for phone calls, PRNs, etc.
I would put "no lunch" on my time card every night. I also contacted the Labor Board and they sent me the information, because I knew someone was going to challenge it eventually.
Sure enough, at one staff meeting, the pissant little Director got up in my face and started screaming "You will NOT put no lunch on your time card! That stops NOW!!"
I calmly stood up, handed him a copy of the statute that the Labor Board had sent me and said, "If this is unclear, I'm sure a representative from the Labor Board would be more than willing to come here and explain it to you."
Never heard another word about it.