is it legal for employers to dock you for a lunch period without you taking a lunch break?

Answer 1

NO! You have to be payed for what you work. I had a previous employer that did the same to me and I had to go all the way up the chain and eventually was paid for 60 days of docked lunches I never took!

Answer 2

no. check with your state or federal department of labor. There should be a poster placed somewhere where employees can easily see it (break room, near a time clock, etc.) There will be contact info on that.

That said, there's probably a way to reach an understanding with your employer. If not, get a new job.

edit - after reading some other posts, I think you may be in the wrong if you were told to take a break and didn't, but by and large, the law says you get paid for what you work if you are an hourly worker.(not on flat salary)

Answer 3

Of course it is legal!! Your boss/ manager is responsible for scheduling to fit the needs of the business. If he needs a clerk to be there until (say) 5:30 instead of 5 pm, it may mean you being in store for 8 1/2 hrs. If you fail to take the break, you would be "done" at 5. Not to mention, labor laws state that persons working a certain number of hours, MUST be given a lunch break. What you want, isn't relevant to the store requirements, or the law.

Answer 4

You work by a schedule. You work in an at will enviroment unless you have a union. Now the budget of any company is based on hours worked. Their insurance rates are based on hours worked. Their stock reports are based on hours worked.
Overtime cuts into the company's profilts and ability to stay open in the black. Why would you work thru your lunch anyway? By law you are entitled to a break after 4 hours and lunch if you work 7 hours. (different states may vary) Your lunch time may coincide with the 4 hour thing. Your working thru your lunch robs the company of their ability to make money. You inherantly agreed to this when you took the job. So in answer to your question, I believe it is legal for them to do that to prevent overtime and for you to fill the schedule properly. You are not making friends with the company by working, you are actually a better employee by taking your breaks.

Answer 5

The law says that your employer must give you a lunch break. If you do not take it because you are to busy, ask your boss if you can leave early or come in later. If he says no then take your lunch break and walk out for thirty-minutes. You cannot use the excuse that you are not hungry and therefore not taking your lunch break.

Answer 6

It may not be legal, but they do it ALL THE TIME!


Especially ate nursing homes. You are supposed to take a 30 minute lunch, but you don't get to, cause too many people need help and you still don't get paid for that thirty minutes. It's unfair, so maybe talk to your boss (or even higher up) about it, and make sure to either get your FULL LUNCH break, or get that money! Don't let them mess with your money. Good Luck

Answer 7

No - find the blue pages in your phone book and call the labor board. In most states, you MUST take a lunch if you work over 6 hours. They could fire you for not taking a lunch if they had documented proof that they'd counseled you on it.

Answer 8

need more details, if you did not take a lunch break and you went hom early instead, yes that is ok, or if you just worked normal hours and still did not have a lunch break and you still got docked then its illegal, it is also illegal for them not to give yo time to have a lunch break.

Answer 9

State law requires you to take a lunch...check with the state department of labor. Maybe they do it to show they are abiding by the law, but you are not [probably not your fault...i'm sure...i've been there].

Answer 10

It's not illegal. If you work an 8-hour shift, you should take lunch.