AZ - Laws or statutes reguarding Breaks/Lunches

[dygital]

Hello,

I was wondering what are the legal specifics for giving a break or lunch in Arizona. Maybe federal labor law will indicate it.

Reason why I'm asking is because my friend works 8 hrs and they only give her 1 15-minute break. Me, I work for a company that gives that and enforces the breaks and stuff for fear of being in violation of the law.

Anyone have any specific statutes or laws on this?

Thanks
I'd appreciate email too jvmanna@aim.com

[LConnell]

Arizona does not require meal or rest periods for adult employees.

[mandoram]

hi
my current employer is taking out lunch breaks on my time sheet. they keep saying that it is az labor law that we take lunches. there are times when it is just to busy to stop and take a break let alone lunch. what is the law on a 8 hour day and lunches
please reply to email
mandoram@hotmail.com

[Pattymd]

As previously stated, Arizona does not require meal breaks for adult employees. However, if you are a nonexempt employee, you must be paid for all hours worked, even if you work through your scheduled meal period.

[cbg]

However, you can be disciplined for not taking a lunch break as directed; it just can't be by forfeiting pay for the time.

[nanyoung]

I don't currently live in AZ, and I am fortunate enough to work for the Federal Government. When my son who goes to school and works in AZ, called and told me he only get's one 15 minute break in 6 hours, I couldn't believe there weren't laws following the federal guidelines for companies doing business in AZ. But from what I've seen on this web page companies rule and their employees get to suffer. Are there any employee rights groups working toward better working conditions in AZ? I'd love to donate some of my time and money to their cause.

[cbg]

Federal law does not require private employers to provide breaks either. What you receive as a Federal employee is not the same as what Federal law requires private employers to do.

[JVillarreal]

Hi, I recently got a job at McDonalds as a minor for some cash for me to save. Lately I have been realizing that I think I am being not only discriminated, but overworked as well. My first day of work was fine and so were my next 2. But after 2 weeks of working there, I started to realize I wasent getting my breaks. None of the Caucasian people were getting their breaks. All of the Hispanic people were getting their breaks but not full breaks. My boss gives the hispanics 5 min break for working 6 hours straight. I know that he is required by law, if you are a minor, you are required to have a 15 min break after 4-6 hours of work. Now, I am really fed up with my boss and the fact that I work 6-8 hours straight with no break or rest time and that sometimes he makes me work alone with 10 people in the front of the store and 10 in the Drive-Thru. I have been called many times to see if i wanted to work because they were short on people. But I have had taken a look inside to see that there were 3 hispanic people working and he wanted to send them home early and make me come in and work. Now, in some cases I do get a break when he is not there. We have 3 Managers. One being the one that does not give breaks, Another a friend from school that is the shift manager, and Another that is a manager that is very kind. I have talked to both of the "good" managers about this problem and they have told me the same thing i was told by my parents, that I have the right to a break. So what should I do? Should I call McDonalds Corperate and report anonymously? Should I call the Labor Board and report this? Please Help me out

[cbg]

How old are you?

[Pattymd]

If you are being disparately treated due to your race or national origin, you can contact the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission and file a complaint. Reporting this "anonymously" to corporate probably won't change your particular situation; how could anyone correct it for you if they don't know who you are? Anonymous complaints are not normally treated very seriously.

Now, if you are not getting the required breaks for a minor, you can file a complaint with the state Dept. of Labor.

[JVillarreal]

I am 15 years of age

[ElleMD]

Have you asked this one manager for a break? What does he say? I'd try approaching the managers who are sympathetic and asking them what can be done. Have you explained that you feel it is because of your race that you aren't getting the breaks that you should?

Actually, under state law, at 15 you can not be working in the kitchen. http://www.ica.state.az.us/Labor/yemoccs.htm #9. It isn't clear if you are r not.

It also isn't clear how many hours you are working but here is the link to the law for your state http://www.ica.state.az.us/Labor/yemhours.htm

Actually, I couldn't find anything that requires breaks of any kind, though it may be company policy. Cbg?

[cbg]

According to my source, AZ does NOT require breaks for minors, even those under 16. (I asked for your age because my source breaks minor employees down by age range.) AZ law does limit the number of hours you can be required to work, but does not require breaks.

Now, I will also admit that my source is somewhat out of date, but the AZ state website does not indicate breaks are required for minors either. So before we go any further, where are you getting your information that the breaks are required?

[JVillarreal]

My father is the big boss at unicco in phoenix and he knows that it is the law that if you are below 18 years of age, after 4 hours of working, you are entitled to 15 minutes of break time.

[robb71]

Originally Posted by JVillarreal

My father is the big boss at unicco in phoenix and he knows that it is the law that if you are below 18 years of age, after 4 hours of working, you are entitled to 15 minutes of break time.

I will have to agree with cbg. I did look into this for you and could not locate anything requiring breaks for minors. A.R.S. § 23-230 (Overview) establishes work hours and prohibits certain occupations for minors. It does not mandate breaks.

Are you able to provide a link to your source?

[JVillarreal]

I will look this up tommorrow when I go to work

[Pattymd]

It's possible that the breaks your father is referring to are required by the union contract only.