Comments on: Breaks: State Laws

By: Patti

Patti — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:50:03 +0000

Oh I so agree with you Holly…this is typical. Making everyone pay for the mistakes of a few is what cowards do. A good leader has no problem holding individuals accountable for their work, ethics, behavior, attendance ect. Abusing breaks happens- usually by aides who’ve worked for a place for a long time in my experiences as I’ve seen. I’m the kind of person who will speak up to those abusing situations..but I have no power and authority. And just because I SPEAK up doesn’t take away management’s responsibility to do so. This is cowardly leadership…

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:03:44 +0000

I find it hard to believe in this day and age ALL the states don’t have laws about breaks. I belong to one of the email groups and one aide, an Med Tech, was bragging about the state she lives in being one that doesn’t mandate breaks and how her management has threatened to take them ALL away. She was actually saying she understands why (cause a few aides take more time, or maybe more breaks than allotted or something)- this med tech said she would support management. What a jerk! I really get mad when I hear how the few can spoil it for all- but I get even more mad at management that doesn’t have the CAJEWELS to hold the few accountable. This is why there has to be break laws for each state.
Because management is not capable of managing!

By: Patti

Patti — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:52:41 +0000

Yes thank you Heather!!

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 23:12:08 +0000

I like how they break it down to the number of hours worked too. Seems kind of silly that they have to do that; it shows how much people were taken advantage of back in the day I guess.

Thanks Heather for this list- it will come in handy for many an overworked aide I am sure.

Oh and I love the new look here too guys!:mrgreen:

By: Patti

Patti — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 15:04:44 +0000

Let’s not forget to add- that the courts generally go by Facility Policy, written and implied. If it’s policy that staff will get a 1/2 hr. unpaid meal break, the facility cannot abuse this often. AND if staff don’t get that break they must be paid. Many employee lawsuits have been won by staff whose breaks were abused by the management.

Also, if you’re a member of a union all state and fed laws become null and void. Not that unions take away breaks, but they DO often allow the facility to call the shots when it comes to emergencies and other special situations. Short staffing is always considered a special situation. So, union facilities tend to allow skipped breaks more than non union.