I work in a thrift store in Huntsville Alabama. I believe it's privately owned. My employer has a maddening habit of making up rules off the top of her head. I mean everyday it's something new. We would usually have (2) 15 minute breaks and (1) half-hour lunch break. This has been so since I've worked there and I have been there since 2003. Now she has told us that the law says it's 12 minutes instead of 15 minutes. This bothers me because although small, it happens too often. Mind you we have not insurance of any kind. The job is quite hard, with alot of lifting of 20lbs and up. It's mainly women working there. I could go on and on. I was just hoping that someone could just let me know what I have gotten myself into and can tell me if I have any rights at all in dealing with this. Who knows what else they might take away. I havent even gotten into the health issues which I know are illegal. What can I do?

Neither Federal nor Alabama law requires that you be provided with breaks of any length. So unless you have a binding contract that guarantees you 15 minute breaks, she can not only reduce the length of the breaks, she can eliminate them altogether if she wants to.

Again, neither Federal nor Alabama law requires that you be provided with any insurance benefits.

I guess the best thing for me is to get out before anything major happens?
It's amazing what people are willing and can get away with, and she's getting away with alot.

That's up to you. I don't know that I'd say she's "getting away" with anything since she's not violating any laws.

I'd love to know how someone can work an 8,10 or 12 hour shift in a factory or anywhere for that matter and not be expected to take a break. I worked at Sam's wholesale for 3 years and the breaks were posted for two 15 minute breaks and a half hour lunch for 8 hour shifts and a 15 minute break for a 6 hour shift. I also worked at a factory that had breaks posted for an 8 hour shift you get 2- 10 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch. This was in the hand books and was also posted with the alabama labor laws poster. I'd have to see it in writing to believe that it's not the law that an employer has to give you a break. That also runs into a safety issue with osha just like working too much overtime. The more tired you are the more you are at risk for getting hurt. I'm not saying it's not true but I know in the past it was the law that you have to have breaks or at least that's what I was told when I called the Alabama Labor Board two years ago. Funny how these employers can get away with so much when all you're trying to do is earn a living to feed your family and help them out in the meantime.

I'd love to know how someone can work an 8,10 or 12 hour shift in a factory or anywhere for that matter and not be expected to take a break. I worked at Sam's wholesale for 3 years and the breaks were posted for two 15 minute breaks and a half hour lunch for 8 hour shifts and a 15 minute break for a 6 hour shift. I also worked at a factory that had breaks posted for an 8 hour shift you get 2- 10 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch. This was in the hand books and was also posted with the alabama labor laws poster. I'd have to see it in writing to believe that it's not the law that an employer has to give you a break. That also runs into a safety issue with osha just like working too much overtime. The more tired you are the more you are at risk for getting hurt. I'm not saying it's not true but I know in the past it was the law that you have to have breaks or at least that's what I was told when I called the Alabama Labor Board two years ago. Funny how these employers can get away with so much when all you're trying to do is earn a living to feed your family and help them out in the meantime. If you want, you could google breaks and meals alabama and the first one will answer your questions. You may have been given information on breaks and meals of someone 15 or younger.

What there may have been in the past is irrevelant. Whether you or I or anyone else agrees (and I do agree that an employee should be given a break) the fact remains that right now, the law in Alabama does not require breaks.