Is it legal in Kentucky to offer a thirty minute lunch but then tell you if you take it you will only get paid for seven and half hours, that the employer does not have to let you stay an extra thirty minutes to make your eight hours?
Also, We have never had a lunch break. The employer states that in the 1970's it was mutually agreed between employer and employee to skip the lunch break. The employees currently working there started working much later than the 1970's and did not agree to this. Is there anything we can do to change this?
And is it legal to give certain departments (also hourly) a lunch break and deny other departments?
Thank you

The answers to all of your questions boil down to this: In Kentucky you MUST be given a meal break between the third and the fifth hour of work. The employees and employer cannot agree to break the law.

However, the break does not have to be paid (assuming it exceeds twenty minutes) and your employer is not obligated to allow you to work late so that you get paid for 8 hours instead of 7.5. The employer sets your work hours, not you.

Can you tell me where I can find this in writing?

http://www.labor.ky.gov/ows/employmentstandards/faq/

Thanks so much for all of your help!