Is it legal for a company to make you stay 9 hrs, but only pay you for 8 hrs because they dont pay for my 1 hour lunch? This is the only company i worked for and heard of that does this. Everywhere else you go, you get paid 9-5, or what ever the schedule is, for 8 hrs. And most companies will pay for your lunch weather its 30 min, or an hour. 1 hr a day is about 260 lost hours in a year. I work In NJ. Any help is appreciated.
2007-06-29 05:22:41 · 7 answers · asked by leofresh1 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment ➔ Law & Legal
Meal breaks in most industries are designated as unpaid time, and it is very common for companies not to pay them. Multiply those 260 hours by the number of hourly employees at the company, and you will soon see that your loss is their financial gain.
Visit www.dol.gov and look for the "wage order" that pertains to your industry. That will provide you with information about the meal and rest periods that apply to you.
Good luck!
2007-06-29 06:51:17 · answer #1 · answered by Mel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paying you for your lunch hour isn't legally required, and it's not really a common practice, although some companies do.
That said, if you are not allowed to leave the premises during your lunch hour, or if you have any duties during that time like for example answering the phone if anyone calls, then they're most likely required to pay you for that time since it would be considered work time, not lunch break. But if you can leave the building if you want to, and have no job duties during your lunch time, then no, they don't have to pay you, whether you actually leave the building or not.
2007-06-29 12:36:53 · answer #2 · answered by Judy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My job does this too. The hours are 9-6, but since they don't pay me for the extra hour they tack on, and I don't do lunch, I leave after I have worked 8 hours. I feel it's not right to make a person work overtime and not compensate.
2007-06-29 12:34:16 · answer #3 · answered by frippy green 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is legal. It's called an unpaid lunch, and some don't pay for the 15 minute breaks you get, either ...this is actually common in lower/entry level positions and, believe it or not , bigger companies and corporations. Find a new company,a smaller one! I'm also in NJ.
2007-06-29 12:35:29 · answer #4 · answered by N0_white_flag 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe this would be legal. If you worked by the hour and punched a time clock, you would clock out for lunch and back in when your returned. They would not be paying you for this time. The same would be true of a salaried job. Other salaried jobs are more lenient with this because sometimes they might need a little extra time.
2007-06-29 12:44:59 · answer #5 · answered by Don 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They dont have to pay you for your 1 hour lunch
2007-06-29 12:29:59 · answer #6 · answered by sean94110 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes its legal, why should they pay you to scarf your face.
2007-06-29 12:30:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋