What is the law concerning lunch breaks for emergency 911 dispatchers ?
Our center works 12 hour shifts and are told we can not have a break, nor leave the dispatch room.
Federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks. However, when employers do offer short breaks (usually lasting about 5 to 20 minutes), federal law considers the breaks work-time that must be paid. Unauthorized extensions of authorized work breaks need not be counted as hours worked when the employer has expressly and unambiguously communicated to the employee that the authorized break may only last for a specific length of time, that any extension of the break is contrary to the employer's rules, and any extension of the break will be punished.
Heck, i thought 30min lunch was mandatory, guess i was wrong. but really, since its not federal, i bet that they do have some special clause for emergency personnel, i will look some more and see what i see and amend this, you tell us what state
If you said which state you were in that would be better
15 minutes for every 4 hours worked
Answers:
That is every kind of Illegal...You need to talk to the Attorney Generals Office of your state. They should have enough people working to cover breaks for everyone. You nay all have to have them individually, but to not allow a break is against the law.
If you need to go smoke, go smoke, if somebody has something that important they'll call back
I believe they are under the same labor laws as any other workplace....15 minutes for every 4 hours worked, etc.
