angelatc
01-06-2016, 10:40 AM
In yet another example of the progressive FedGov enforcing laws that do not exist:
A publishing company near Philadelphia has been ordered by a judge to pay back wages – possibly up to $1.75 million -- to more than 6,000 employees after it neglected to pay for bathroom or other short breaks, according to a statement (http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/WHD20152486.htm)released by the Department of Labor Monday.
Investigators from the division found that PBP telemarketers had to clock in and out for every break, “even those as short as two to three minutes,” the DOL said. PBP deducted the break time from the total hours worked each week.
The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require lunch or coffee breaks. “However, when employers do offer short breaks (usually lasting about 5-to-20 minutes), the law considers the breaks compensable work hours that must be included in the sum of hours for the work week and considered in determining overtime,” the DOL said.
I suspect that the left coasters here on the forum will say this is a good decision and insist that this is a crappy way to treat people. I agree that it is crappy, but people do not have to work there. And the other half of the story is:
“Our company has a liberal break policy of allowing our telemarketers to choose unpaid breaks anytime, for any reason, for as long as they want,” Satell said Tuesday. “This flex work policy was greatly valued by many of our employees to handle their personal needs.”
So you want to go pee *and* smoke a cigarette? Cool. Need to pick up your kid after school? No problem. Have lunch with your friends, and run to the pharmacy during a break? No problem.
Well, its only a problem when the government steps in to help.
A publishing company near Philadelphia has been ordered by a judge to pay back wages – possibly up to $1.75 million -- to more than 6,000 employees after it neglected to pay for bathroom or other short breaks, according to a statement (http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/WHD20152486.htm)released by the Department of Labor Monday.
Investigators from the division found that PBP telemarketers had to clock in and out for every break, “even those as short as two to three minutes,” the DOL said. PBP deducted the break time from the total hours worked each week.
The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require lunch or coffee breaks. “However, when employers do offer short breaks (usually lasting about 5-to-20 minutes), the law considers the breaks compensable work hours that must be included in the sum of hours for the work week and considered in determining overtime,” the DOL said.
I suspect that the left coasters here on the forum will say this is a good decision and insist that this is a crappy way to treat people. I agree that it is crappy, but people do not have to work there. And the other half of the story is:
“Our company has a liberal break policy of allowing our telemarketers to choose unpaid breaks anytime, for any reason, for as long as they want,” Satell said Tuesday. “This flex work policy was greatly valued by many of our employees to handle their personal needs.”
So you want to go pee *and* smoke a cigarette? Cool. Need to pick up your kid after school? No problem. Have lunch with your friends, and run to the pharmacy during a break? No problem.
Well, its only a problem when the government steps in to help.