Can anyone tell me... can a TN employer have different rules for lunch breaks for different jobs? for example.. one employee have a total of one hour lunch break, being paid for 30 minutes and 30 minutes unpaid, while other employees have only 30 minute paid lunches and do not have any unpaid time available? All employees working 8 hours a day...

As long as all employees receive at least the minimum that is required by state law and that who is allowed what is not determined by a characteristic protected by law, yes, it is legal.

I started working for this company about a year ago. When I started I was employed as Office Manager (Salaried Position). I was told that my hours would be from 8am-4:30pm. For the last year I've worked at least 9 1/2 hours with no lunch break. My director states that if I am to go to lunch that my area must be covered at all times. There is hardly anyone in this office that is willing to sit here and do that for me. I have constantly addressed this with my director. Most of the time I'm having to transfer the telephone to wherever I'm eating lunch. I'm hardly ever allowed to leave the premises. It's 2006, and I can't believe that these types of situations are still going on. What should I do, other than quit, which is one of my options. (I'm looking for another job) We once had a discussion about lunch breaks and I was told that know one ever went to lunch that had this position. What is going on in the place?

Tennessee doesn't require adult employees be given any rest breaks or meal breaks; probably at least half of the states don't. So, you'll just have to decide if you're going to continue as you have been, if you can't work it out with the employer.

I have been employed in Tennessee for 20 years. Every job that I have worked stated that if I worked over 6 hours it was required by law that I take a lunch break. When did that law change?

It didn't. With all due respect to Patty, she is mistaken. TN law requires a thirty minute unpaid meal break for employees who work 6 hours or more.

However, it is unclear whether that law applies to exempt employees or only to non-exempts.