hah..um illegalness at my work?

soo im currently working at a farmstand in my town where they sell plants, produce, meat, baked goods, etc. and its really kind of....well disorganized i guess? you're expected to be able to carry heavy boxes of green beans and such up from the basement, push carts outside, ring on the register, bag produce and all that stuff no matter what your work position is. its a real family type small business and i dont think theyre registers have been updated sinse like 1912. but im rambling now.

so the problem is that im working tomorrow 11-6 and a few days next week 9-5. now at my other job if i was working more than 4 hours i always got a break. but at this place i dont get breaks no matter how long i work. mind you that 9-5 is an 8 hour shift. is that illegal or am i just a wuss haha?

Illegal.

Edit, that is if they do not allow you a break.  There doesn't have to be a scheduled break or anything, but they have to let you take a break once work is slow and you have time for one.

Where I live (Massachusetts) you get a break if you are at least working 6 hours. What state do you live in?

i live in massachusetts also. and technically i can take a small break if i want one but the other workers there all say that they sort of frown apon you taking a break and that it "makes you look bad". so i could take a break but something about it makes me think i wouldnt get a rase as quickly haha (they give you a raise if they like you/when they want).

Then they're just jerks.  Nothing illegal about that.

hmm. well then maybe ill just sneakily ask to go to the bathroom and chill out for a few mins and get myself together....and perhaps sneak a granola bar or something O_o

I could never work 8 hours straight. I'm starving after 5 hours of work and my feet start to ache (I work standing up.)

Your doing hard labor, it's one thing if your doing an office job that requires you to sit all day but you're not. Why would they have a problem with you taking a break? I bet they take breaks when your not looking but they expect you to pick up their slack. Don't let them take advantage of you.

yea exactly! they made it crystal clear when i first started (3 weeks ago) that they want me doing something at all times. and i dont wanna be the stupid newbie that b**ches and moans for a break but i dont think its unreasonable to get a small break in an 8 hr. shift.

haha and they had enough time on their hands to find a ginormous caterpillar, get it a fishtank, name it Henry, and decide to keep it as the 'store pet'........  

Stay strong and let them know you know your rights. And don't be afriad to stand up for yourself, they can't fire you for that (or else they'll get in trouble.)

yea i guess youre right. i should just tell those big meanies that i am no mule and need a break dammit!

speaking of "illegal", that reminds me of my first job.  i was in high school and didn't know better, but now that i'm older... it makes me wanna go back there and kick their arses!!

I worked at this pizza place about two blocks from my school.  The bell dismissed us at 3pm and i had to be there by 3:30 and worked till 11pm.  well... I HAD to clock out at 11, but they made me stay to clean up etc... so i was finally out of there by 12 (so they were cheating me an hour).  I worked 6 days a week (only because they were closed on mondays)

the kicker??

I was paid $100 a week and worked 40+hours  AND... i was paid with personal checks!!   I didn't know better back then, but that's crazy hours for a 16 year old and was paid JACK!!   don't EVEN know how i passed my classes that year.. i was always so tired!! 

bah!  i guess there are always some family owned businesses that take advantage of people.

i say... take your breaks!!!  who cares if you don't get raises as fast as the other people.... unless of course you're planning on making a career outta that place.  take your breaks... your feet deserve it  :)

oh oh oh oh ....AND we wern't allowed to keep our tips!!!  now THAT is BS!!

shizah minnelli only $100 a week?!?!?!?

oh and i am in no way planning to make a career out of that place......unless of course i sporatically decide to become a bum my senior year in hs and not go to college. but going with the idea that im not going to do that i think ill just take my breaks and screw the raises. they can kiss my little @$$ if they dont like me. hmphh.

Now I already miss working at Walmart... I'd get up and go to the bathroom for 5+ minutes whenever I felt like it... and most times I would be sitting on the can texting with my friend or boyfriend.

That and I would time-fraud on some breaks. Non-smoker smoke breaks for the win!

Here's a helpful website page

Federal Wage & Hours - Youth employment - Grocery Stores

It doesn't mention breaks, but there might be some information somewhere on that site. 

Good Luck!

edited to add:  Meal Periods and Breaks

Hi Alexa,

I found this for you, hope it helps. (The link is for the article below).

http://bwlaw.blogs.com/employment_law_bits/20 08/02/paid-lunch-and.html

"Paid lunch and rest breaks in MA – what is required by law?

Massachusetts law requires all employers to provide a 30-minute lunch period to all employees who work six hours or more. It is important to note that the law does not require that the meal break be paid, just that it is given.

However, if an employee’s movement is restricted, or the employee is required to complete functions of his or her job during the lunch break Massachusetts law requires the employer to pay the employee his or her normal hourly wage for that lunch break.

While any employee can voluntarily waive a lunch break, an employer cannot coerce the employee to waive his or her break. Something as seemingly innocent as questioning an employee about his or her willingness to waive a lunch break may be viewed as coercion and should be avoided. In fact, if an employee chooses to waive his or her lunch break, it would be prudent for the employer to require the employee to sign a waiver of the lunch break for placement in his or her personnel file.

Beyond the required meal break, there is no law in Massachusetts that requires employers to provide employees with additional rest periods. Although many employers do provide 10 to 15 minutes breaks during the day as a practical matter, employees in jobs that allow for periodic rests throughout the date often are not granted additional rest breaks. If you decide to allow additional rest periods for your employees, be aware that federal regulations require that any break period of twenty minutes or less must be paid as “hours worked.” This fact should be taken into account when establishing a “break” policy.

Although lunch and rest breaks seem like minor considerations, they are monitored by both state and federal law. Therefore, they should be noted and considered when organizing and running your business to ensure that you are in compliance with the legal requirements."

In addition most studies show that employees that get rest periods during their workday are more productive, both physically and mentally. =)

I found that too, HERE

Somebody needs to print this information off, and slip it onto your employer's desk.  They are indeed breaking the law.

Thank you all so much that info cleared a lot up for me ;)

sulfyr: hahahah sounds like something I would do when i worked at market basket...but those days are gonee