Anyone Know About Labor Laws?

**Donal DeLay** · 01-26-2007, 01:23 PM

Or a good place online to look for state specific laws?

I'm googling right now, but if you already know a few places offhand, it's helpful.

Basically, I want to know if my company has to pay me for my lunch hour because they lock us in the building at night. Also want to know if, since we're locked in until morning, can they force me to stay in the building, off the clock, past my scheduled time.

**bartleby** · 01-26-2007, 01:25 PM

http://www.laborlawtalk.com/

**Taxman** · 01-26-2007, 01:26 PM

Did you check the Florida Department of Labor's (or whatever you have there) web site?

**Ben** · 01-26-2007, 01:28 PM

What the hell kind of job is this?

**Scotty** · 01-26-2007, 01:29 PM

He works for a super villian

**Donal DeLay** · 01-26-2007, 01:32 PM

I found this:

Rest and Meal Periods: Rest periods of short duration, usually 20 minutes or less, are common in industry (and promote the efficiency of the employee) and are customarily paid for as working time. These short periods must be counted as hours worked. Unauthorized extensions of authorized work breaks need not be counted as hours worked when the employer has expressly and unambiguously communicated to the employee that the authorized break may only last for a specific length of time, that any extension of the break is contrary to the employer's rules, and any extension of the break will be punished. Bona fide meal periods (typically 30 minutes or more) generally need not be compensated as work time. The employee must be completely relieved from duty for the purpose of eating regular meals. The employee is not relieved if he/she is required to perform any duties, whether active or inactive, while eating.

Technically, we aren't completely relieved from duty if we're not allowed to leave the building. Dont'cha think?

**KarlH** · 01-26-2007, 01:32 PM

First part yes they can.

Second part, not off the clock but otherwise yes.

**Donal DeLay** · 01-26-2007, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Ben

What the hell kind of job is this?

Lowes overnights.

They set an alarm at night (midnight, or 10:30 if the zone manager isn't working) and it isn't brought down until 4am, (or 530am, if the ZM doesn't work) They call lunch at midnight, when the alarm is set, and do not allow us to leave for lunch.

**Shane W** · 01-26-2007, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Donal

I found this:

Technically, we aren't completely relieved from duty if we're not allowed to leave the building. Dont'cha think?

No.

**adamgreenberger** · 01-26-2007, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by Donal

Or a good place online to look for state specific laws?

I'm googling right now, but if you already know a few places offhand, it's helpful.

Basically, I want to know if my company has to pay me for my lunch hour because they lock us in the building at night. Also want to know if, since we're locked in until morning, can they force me to stay in the building, off the clock, past my scheduled time.

I am not 100%...but I don't think that they can lock you into the building at all...I think Wal-Mart tried that and got into some trouble.

And I don't think that they can force you to stay...no matter what