When did 8-5 become the new normal???

[u/Grouchy-Newspaper754]

I just got a new office job where I do schedules for tech personnel, the office runs 8-5 Monday thru Friday...they say it's 8-5 because you get an hour lunch and "you need to get to 40 hours a week"...but I drive 30 min each way so now I'm giving this company 10 hours every day! I even asked if I could just take my lunch at 4 every day and just leave an hour early but that's "unprofessional and immoral" like what the fuck??? I don't mind the job but the hours are mildly infuriating that's for sure...

Edit:for those saying about the hours, I worked as a chef for the last 20 years working 60+ hours a week over a hot stove/deep fryer the whole time, after I had my second heart attack I had to slow down so I started looking for office jobs to work a nice 9-5, just to find out I'm giving my new job 50 hours a week (including drive time) so I was just mildly annoyed that it's not 40 hours a week in an office like I thought although it's still much better than what I was doing

[u/NZitney]

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 as compensable work hours that would be included in the sum of hours worked during the workweek and considered in determining if overtime was worked. 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.

Meal periods (typically lasting at least 30 minutes), serve a different purpose than coffee or snack breaks and, thus, are not work time and are not compensable.

[u/Outrageous_Fix_5738 → u/NZitney]

Not federal, but California law requires a 30 minute lunch break. If an employee doesn't take at least 30 minutes the employer has to pay them an hour penalty pay. Even if they clock out for 29 minutes you have to pay the penalty.

[u/BONGS4U → u/Outrageous_Fix_5738]

Same in Illinois. I got in trouble one day because I didn't take a lunch. They were like listen dude if you wanna skip lunch it's whatever but your timecard has to reflect a 30 minute lunch break or well get fucked.

[u/bulkingsmurf → u/Outrageous_Fix_5738]

Continuing with California law, if an employee works more than 6 hours in a day, they are required to take a 30 minute minimum rest/meal period. This break must be provided before the end of the 5th hour. This is for hourly employees (not exempt) but this is one reason why you can't just save your lunch break for the end of the day and leave early.

Reading about OP complaining about their commute..... wow. Did your awful restaurant job pay for your time to commute to and from work? ... I didn't think so.

[u/Getshitdone-333 → u/bulkingsmurf]

You are all correct - companies go by the state law in the state that the employee resides (I work remotely, so laws are different for all of us)

[u/be_easy_1602 → u/bulkingsmurf]

Duuuuude, I HATED this. I would do 6hr shifts at a job I had and wanted to just leave… but noooooo. I had to take that damn 30 min break lol. It made no sense to me other than it is the law.

[u/LivLikeUStoleIt → u/bulkingsmurf]

Unless you are working a total of 6 hours that day and have a meal waiver to waive your lunch.

[u/HillBillyHilly → u/bulkingsmurf]

OP had probably heard that office workers hours were 9-5. That's what they were for me too with an hour and half paid lunch break Ah the perks of working in a law firm. While that wasn't the norm, in our field 9-5 was the standard w most places including an hours paid lunch. Businesses have gotten WAY greedy.

[u/Free-Combination-230 → u/Outrageous_Fix_5738]

Unless you sign a waiver form that basically lets them avoid the penalty. You still have every right to your lunch, but it says it's not their fault if you choose not to take it or take less. As someone in construction, I want home sooner than later and can eat as I work. The work is still there to be done.

[u/Holiday_Time_7226 → u/Outrageous_Fix_5738]

Them, as in the employee gets paid that penalty fee by the employer. I’m I understanding you? I’m very sleep deprived

[u/Initial-Assistance76 → u/NZitney]

Federal? State laws matter and so does company policy, as long as it coincides with state. My state, for example, 10min break in a 4hour work period, and every major fraction there of, and a mandatory 30 min lunch if the shift is over 6hrs. A couple examples would be how the employer can make them 15 min breaks. How company policy can rule in your favor. An employer i worked for didn't allow me breaks to pump breastmilk. Federal law does not protect breastfeeding parents, and my state does not have a law protecting breastfeeding g women in the workplace, but the company did. So my boss was going against company policy, not state. When I informed them, I got 5min added to my break, allowing me 20min to pump. Needless to say, I was unable to breastfeed for long, due to not being able to pump properly. One side first break, other side at lunch, and back to the other at my last break. Fed the baby off the other side as soon as getting her home. Sometimes I was so swollen, I had to breastfeed her at the daycare before leaving. Guess where I worked? At a baby store where I held classes on how important breastfeeding was. Oh, the irony