Work in a NJ center not mentioning the name will just abbreviate it GTOC. We recently switched over to nonexempt . My question is it mandatory by the State of NJ to take an unpaid lunch. I know of several other centers that also switched over to nonexempt and are not required to take a lunch break. Think they are just using this to their advantage to get extra time from us. This is a network operation environment and usually just can't get up and leave. Any info would be appreciated. b
5 replies (most recent on top)
The post is confusing. It sounds like you're asking if it's illegal for AT&T to require you to take a meal break? Why would it be illegal to tell you to go to lunch?
Call Hr.
at&t has been violating NY labor law for years....
Fun Fact- NY State requires employers to give their workers a 2nd break (20 min) between the hours of 5-7pm if their shift starts before 11 and goes past 7, which is almost every person that has an opening shift.
but hey, let them rock out. Either people don't know about the law, or at&t simply doesn't care they have consistently violated it for YEARS. Surprised the union hasn't done anything about this.
Bottom line it is a GTOC decision to make you work the lunch. Just another bad decision from the dysfunctional management there. I hear many horror stories about that place.
Meal Breaks
The mandatory break law only applies to minors under the age of 18 and they must be given a thirty (30) minute meal period after five (5) consecutive hours of work. Company policy dictates break and lunch periods for anyone over the age of 18.
New Jersey does not require employers to provide breaks, including lunch breaks, for workers eighteen (18) years old or older. An employer who chooses to provide a break in excess of twenty (20) minutes does not have to pay wages for lunch periods or other breaks if the employee is free to leave the worksite, in fact takes their lunch or break, and the employee does not actually perform work. According to federal law, breaks twenty (20) minutes or shorter typically must be paid. NJ Dept. of Labor FAQs.
http://www.employmentlawhandbook.com/wage-and-hour-laws/state-wage-and-hour-laws/new-jersey/