jail policies?
I guess i should have been more specific with my first ? . i work 12 hour shifts in a county jail . I used to be able to go out for 1 hour for a lunch . I had my radio with me if i was needed. I came back from lunch one day and i had an e-mail from my supervisor telling me that i was no longer to leave the work place for lunch. My supervisor leaves for lunch . I love my job . it gets stressful at times dealing with some of the inmates . they all tell me they have their rights . I just feel that i should be able to leave for an hour or even 30 mins would be fine with me . I am in Missouri. Anyway am i wrong to feel this way . Thank you all for your answers.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
You are not wrong to feel that way. I also work 12 hours at a county jail in Illinois. I know what you are going through. Sometimes I am lucky to even get some quiet time or even grab a bite to eat in the rush. As long as you stay at the facility but can go outside like we do there should really be no problem.
You need to contact your State's Labor Department on the laws regarding lunch breaks.
Here in NH the laws clearly state that a person is supposed to take a half hour to an hour lunch if they work 7 hours a day.
Generally lunch time is NOT paid for by most companies and it is not work time. It is considered the person's personal time, the company has no say in where the person goes or what they do for their lunch hour, as long as they are back on time and not drunk or high, etc.
Do u still have your M.O.S. handbook you received when you started the job? If you do, thumb through the pages and see what is the policy about your lunch break. If you are allowed 2 travel out of the facility--then take it to a union rep. You are in a union --correct? Your sup can't tell u not to leave if ur allowed to leave ( as per lunch break policies). If ur not allowed 2 leave --start a petition with some of your co-workers about this. That would be crazy if u can't leave--your not the inmate. Until then brown bag it.
Of course you are not wrong to feel that way!! It's bad enough already that you have to spend a whole 12 hour tour trapped inside with yelling and screaming. Glad it wasn't locked down!!
But you want to consider this a time to start studying to be a supervisor!
Good luck, God Bless an Be safe..
First of all you deserve that hour lunch and more. How do they have the right to take that away. All the stuff you have to put up with, i know that's a hard job. You need that lucnh break to keep from going insane..... Hang in there buddy
Do you get a paid lunch or are you off the clock during your lunch break? If you are paid, then I think that they may be able to tell you where and when you can take your break. If it is not paid for, then it seems you should be able to take it wherever you want to.
If you can't do the time, don't work with crime.
Seriously though, I can see the security aspects of you leaving the jail. Take it up with your Union/Federation Rep. as it is imperative that you can 'get away' for a break somehow or other.
As all say, it's your lunch! And as suggested, check you manual or CONTRACT you signed! If you want help with options, check with Missouri Human Rights Commission, EEOC to see if you might have a case...
My opinion--Yes, I feel that you are in the right. If you are not paid for that hour--it is yours--but if you are being paid for it--then I guess it would belong to them. Twelve hours is a long time to be in your position. Good Luck
no, i think you should be able to leave. it is YOUR hour for lunch. why should it matter if you leave to go to mc. d's or not? did the boss say why? and did you ask if every one else was no longer allowed to leave for lunch?
everyone is entitled to THEIR time for lunch.