I am one of two nurses that work on the weekends. We do not get paid for lunch. We must stay on our unit and cannot leave the building. We continue to answer call lights and phones during our break. Paperwork which all patients sign state there will be 2 nurses on at all time. Since there is no relief for lunch, shouldn't we get paid for it, since we still work?

I am one of two nurses that work on the weekends. We do not get paid for lunch. We must stay on our unit and cannot leave the building. We continue to answer call lights and phones during our break. Paperwork which all patients sign state there will be 2 nurses on at all time. Since there is no relief for lunch, shouldn't we get paid for it, since we still work?

Az. does not require meal and/or rest breaks (unless you have a binding employment contract or CBA to the contrary).

However; if your employer requires you to take a meal break, you must take one. If you work through your meal break, you must be paid for it but you can be disciplined up to & including being terminated for working through it.

Please review this link - some nurses fall under one of the exemptions under the FLSA. (professional exemption) If you qualify as exempt, you would get your regular fixed weekly salary no matter how many hrs. you work per wk. You get no add'l. pay for working through lunch. If you are non-exempt, you must be paid for all hours worked & paid overtime when applicable.

http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/regs/compliance/fairpay/fs17n_nurses.pdf