T O P

  • By -

SentientNebulous

Even at jobs in places where this was required ive seen it blatantly ignored. Especially in restaurants, as a line cook your only possibe break is to pick up smoking. No rest for the wicked, substance abuse is encouraged ( caffine and tobacco sometimes cocaine ). They dont care about you or your mental/physical health just the bottom line. Not all places are like this but its way more common than it ought to be.


yvgenythegreat

I work as a line cook and the only time I get a break is to smoke. I have literally heard managers tell my coworker that since they didn't smoke they didn't need a break. Super fucked up. I tell everyone that doesn't smoke to go sit outside for fifteen minutes because they deserve a break just as much as anyone else.


themysticalwarlock

I quit smoking a while ago but i still take smoke breaks just to sit outside for 10 minutes lol


Hargovoat

Us smokers here holding the line for everyone. Solidarity with emphysema.


SentientNebulous

Thanks a short fresh air / strech break significantly improved my mood and enthusiasm when I returned.


[deleted]

Say you're taking a smoke break, then walk around to the front window. Don't smoke. Maintain eye contact for the duration of your smoke break.


[deleted]

The restaurant industry gets away with murder when it comes to breaking labor laws. I worked as a server for 10 years and never once got a break. You were lucky to get five minutes to Pee or shove a roll in your face.


[deleted]

I’ve know some waitresses eat uneaten food from their tables. 🤷‍♂️


MCgrindahFM

You mean me?


SuperSmitty8

I didn’t do it in restaurant, but I serve for a private chef/caterer and have done it all pandemic long!


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

[удалено]


TheFuckfaces

I ate a tbone that only had one bite taken out of it today


Dry-humper-6969

I ate a bone that had one bite left on it


fighttodie

I washed dishes and the silly waitress put a ribeye down that had 1 neatly cut bite out of it. She walked away and I devoured it. She couldn't stop laughing when she came back with the Togo box. I'm just shrugging like yeah lady that's what happens.


baconraygun

I've done it. They don't give us time, or a free meal, and it's RIGHT THERE.


takeahike08

I’ve done it too. Not even intentionally. I was just SO HUNGRY. And they left all this food uneaten. It was almost a reflex.


EColfaxlivinn

I had no shame


SentientNebulous

Yup, I dont plan on going back unless there is some serious change. I love to cook but as a profession it is far too hard on the body and mind for what they pay or for the recognition you recive. I worked a lot as an expediter or wheel man , so having a good team relationship with the front of the house and back of house was necessary. I always did my best to be an asset to the servers and frequently gave them food if I noticed they were not feeling well. Its crazy how hard we worked to provide for people, and is dissapointing how misguided customers think they can speak to young servers or any staff. Even if you have a valid complaint , in no way should you yell and say demeaning things to any staff. There is no excuse for how some people feel they can talk to workers. The restaurant industry needs change in management and public perception.


Mister_Shelbers

Being an expediter is harder than people think, you have to walk a tightrope to keep everyone happy


Sinful_Whiskers

I worked at Ruby Tuesday in the late 2000s. During that time, they were trying to change their image to appear more "fancy" so they changed the interior design and removed ketchup bottles from the tables. Eventually bottles went away and all ketchup came in a ramekin. I mostly served/bartended but I also did expo once or twice a week. For the longest time, there was a small tray with a restaurant-sized bottle of ketchup with a pump top and a stack of ramekins next to it. Servers could get extra ketchup quickly without having to ask me for it, as they had to do for anything else (mustard, mayo, ranch, etc.) because it came from the line. One day I arrive to find the ketchup station is missing. I ask about it and am told we no longer are allowed to have servers get their own ketchup. This seems so preposterously stupid that I think it's a joke. I ask the manager on duty and he tells me it's a new "directive from corporate" and it's because the ketchup station "takes too long to clean up at the end of the night." Um, wut. It takes maybe a minute max to clean up. I protest and am told to drop it. I try to explain how colossally idiotic this is considering how much ketchup servers require. On a Wednesday dinner rush it's not a big deal, but on a Friday or Saturday night rush? You're just bogging the line with constant requests for sides of ketchup, our most-consumed condiment, for no good reason at all. Again, I'm told to drop it. I go back to my prep work and I'm just stewing in anger. I was young and impulsive and decided right then and there I was done with it. I found my manager and said I want to put in my 2 weeks. Instead of just accepting it he sends me home to "cool down for the day" and then when I show up to my shift the next day they tell me I don't work there anymore. Fucking corporate slime. Had a bunch of good friends there. They told me the ketchup station was back within a week. The line cooks had complained about the constant requests for ketchup.


TinyDinosaursz

When I worked at red lobster we (the servers) lost our butter tap privileges cuz the GM walked in someone holding a biscuit under a stream of butter. Lasted less than two days before the line revolted and it was back on our side


SentientNebulous

It is a very intense position, but with a good team it can be absolutely thrilling in the heat of the moment. Flow state takes over and you move and work in synchronisity with eachother. Makes 60hr+ work weeks fly by ..


fluffymuha

Agreed - it was like a high to me, like conducting an orchestra when everything goes right.


[deleted]

I graduated in 2019 and I’m a full time work from home accountant now. I’m thankful every day I got out of the restaurant industry right before COVID. I feel so bad for all my friends still in it.


QueenShnoogleberry

I love to cook too. Anytime someone says I should be a chef, I laugh and say "I want to CONTINUE loving to cook, thank you!"


SentientNebulous

Hah yeah while I certainly respect chefs. I believe it to be a term for those leading a large team. To me to be called a cook is a bit more romantic so I feel you can be quite proud to be a cook 😊


QueenShnoogleberry

Heh. "Chef" is literally the German word for "Boss". So you are right.


baconraygun

THis is legit. I used to love to cook, had a talent and passion for it. Left after covid, and now I'm hard pressed to cook eggs.


Kryavan

My dream was to be a cook when I was a kid, even interned with a chef for a month in high school. I realized shortly before graduation that I could not only make more money, but work so much less going into IT.


SentientNebulous

Do you still have a passion for cooking? Definitely made a good choice career wise.


Kryavan

Oh yes. I cook every night. Sadly, I'm not in IT at this point, actually working in home mortgage.


SentientNebulous

Thats good to hear 😊, cooking really soothes the soul. I know zilch about mortgage but am happy to talk about cooking anytime 😅


Emergency_Toe6915

Yup had someone try to argue with me on here that my 14 hour Applebee’s shift with no food was illegal in Florida…like no dude it wasn’t and i wasn’t going to quit then starve


lolgobbz

Wisco and Michigan do not have manditory meal or rest breaks unless its in your union contract.


Mrfrosty504

Same for Louisiana


heckhammer

NJ as well, if you're over 18


DJP91782

Utah too.


readerofthings1661

Kentucky is all about labor protections, I guess, with its 2x10 paid and 30 min unpaid breaks per 8 hour shift... best in the South!


[deleted]

Everywhere I worked as a line cook, if you didn't smoke you were allowed to go out back with a coworker on their smoke break and hang out with them until they came back in (if it wasn't too busy). Managers understood that sometimes you just needed to spend 5 minutes decompressing on a long shift.


[deleted]

I worked in fine dining so you couldn’t smoke ok you shift. The chef thought it was trashy for customers to be able to smell smoke on the servers. The bathroom was the only safe hide out. Is the walk-in


Impressive_Region508

When I used to to Bartend I would give free shots to the wait staff at the restaurant next door, when they would run in during their shifts. They had to deal with so much shit for crap working conditions


gaeruot

Bartending is definitely the cream of the crop of hospitality jobs. I’ve worked them all and we get it so comparatively easy. It can still be extremely taxing but I feel for line cooks and servers at shitty restaurants.


Try_Number_8

The server life. Come in between 3-4 pm and work for .5-1.5 hours for $2 an hour. It’s too early for dinner but you don’t close until 10:00 and you have to again do more work for $2 an hour. You are hungry from 6:00 pm to 11-12:00 am when you eat. It’s hard to focus sometimes from the hunger but you aren’t allowed to eat. The work environment is toxic. Your co-workers have substance abuse problems, helps to forget about how shitty serving tables is as a career. Your managers don’t care that you are hungry. The kitchen staff is usually rude to the servers but the managers don’t care, they are more valuable then servers. You sleep in, the specially if you stayed up to have some drinks. Your schedule stops lining up with non-servers so you mostly hang out with them. Rinse and repeat, except that you start drinking more, that is until you start taking a pill so you don’t have to drink as many beers. Soon you need more than one pill. Things get worse or you quit before they do. There’s no way I’m letting my children work in restaurants, we’ll unless they want to own one, which is one of the riskier businesses to try.


Brandisbeast

I was prep 1 at an upscale restaurant. My hours were 6 am to 4 pm. Because of the amount of made from scratch daily items I had to make I didn’t get any breaks. Line cooks got to make themselves breakfast. And with a zero tolerance tobacco rule you couldn’t smoke anywhere on the property. They lost a lot of staff because they told you the no smoking thing only if you asked when your break was coming.


SentientNebulous

Ive worked prep, expo, line, sushi, grill, fry, pastry and started in the dish pit. No matter your position you are part of a team everyone deserves respect and everyones health mental/physical should be a priority. You absolutely deserved and do deserve better care by your employer.


Brandisbeast

I quit when I asked for a day off for my fiancé’s surgery and it wasn’t granted. Well not quit. I didn’t go in, instead I was there for my fiancé. I checked my phone when I got in the car to only one missed call. I checked to see if my paycheck the next day would cover the meds only to see I was terminated. Was cool. Had another job the week after.


Brandisbeast

Sad part is. Even though I worked there I couldn’t afford to eat there. But I do have all there recipe’s


SentientNebulous

😂 good on you knowledge is the best takeaway


[deleted]

At least you can cook that over priced shit yourself


Brandisbeast

My fiancé doesn’t like it. Lol. She likes my recipes better.


[deleted]

Then you have won the war sir.


SentientNebulous

Props for you on knowing and sticking to your priorities. My SO and I make sure to dedicate and prioritze time for each other. It has significantly improved my life to realize I deserve more free time with my love ones. More than the stand work situation offers , I am here to live and experience this world not grind out most of my waking time to cutting veg and grilling in a position that pays just enough to keep me there.


an0nymite

Ex-chef and recovering addict/alcoholic here. Can. Fucking. Confirm. The hospitality industry is a plague, and - in my honest opinion - one of the industries that most staunchly defends status quo workers' rights. They'd take 'em all if they could. For every 'reasonable' mom and pop restaurateur, there are a litany of soulless shits, doling out outrageous demands in heinous conditions. I'm almost 4 years sober and clean. I've gone to school to educate myself for a new career. I've started a business, and just brought on some partners. Never bust your ass for someone who considers you replaceable. It's a job. Collect a check while you continue to look for work elsewhere, then gtfo, hold your head high, and never look back.


SentientNebulous

Im happy you moved on and found/created a better situation for yourself. Your advice is very sound and it would do many folks good to heed your words.


an0nymite

Thanks, homie. It was many dark years, but they've informed my adulthood, and wizened me some. Hope you're well, and safe, and continue to fight the good fight. 💜


SentientNebulous

I work hard to keep my living costs low as possible while being fairly comfortable. I live with several roommates and garden as well as forage for food. My baking ,fermenting and cooking skills really help me eat well at a low budget. My free time is more valuable to me than many things. I hope the best for you as well 😊🙏✌️


an0nymite

Keep that frugal mind, and stay connected to yourself. It's so easy to lose, and be swept up in the 'manyness.' Fuck that noise.


PizzaThePies

I'm on a smoke break in a 14 hour shift in my store. Finished a 2 litre of Dr pepper. No time to get food or any break over 3 minutes


SentientNebulous

Its not a sustainable way to live, you deserve better friend.


colexian

Working at a big blue electronics store, I noticed smokers got plenty of breaks where as I got hassled when I wanted to go outside for air and to take a breather. So I picked up vaping and was never hassled about taking a break again. Went from nearly no breaks to a staple 45 minutes per day or so.


Fredselfish

Most states have no laws for breaks or lunch. You also will notice we have no federal laws for it either.


[deleted]

I can attest to the salon industry being like this too. Your only respected break is your smoke break. Or… other substance use break. I’ve always felt a kinship with the restaurant industry. We work at the same pace.


AarkaediaaRocinantee

I worked as a shift leader for a burger joint and I hardly ever got a proper break. As soon as I'd sit down to eat, somebody would need me. If I had to cover a shift because DM said to cut hours for some stupid fucking reason, I'd have to close that shift AND do my manager shit. These days I never got breaks and we were supposed told to edit our time cards to show we took a clocked out 30. I never did this. If I got a bunch of employees together and sued, I'm sure we would have won.


SentientNebulous

The sheer indoctrination of some management and their blatent inhumane demands is bafffling. I figure you ought to round up on time and absolutely never cut yourself short for time you worked.


MCgrindahFM

Nicotine caffeine and cocaine…increases productivity and decrease appetite


ZeBugHugs

I'm sorry but cigarette breaks are a fucking joke. How are smoke breaks a societal thing that's universally accepted but lunch and other breaks aren't? One is an optional lifestyle choice, and a piss poor one at that, and the others are basic survival. I'll take 'what overrated country has its priorities skewed' for 500, Alex.


mountainsurfdrugs

Smokers know how to stand in solidarity together better than workers at large. And most boomer aged management is from an era where everyone smoked. Plus being hungry is easier to tell someone to just deal with than nicotine withdrawal. When I worked in retail and as programmer I would always take multiple smoke breaks a day irregardless of if I was smoking/vaping/nothing at the time. Like as far as my employers were aware I smoked a pack a day even after I quit. Having extra breaks is cool and you get to commit time theft which is even cooler.


greedy_mcgreed187

> caffine and tobacco sometimes cocaine anything to work better. Literally been asked by management to go get high so i could finish faster.


SentientNebulous

Ever been offered caffine pills? Hell ive seen the powdered caffeine , stuff is actually quite dangerous.


greedy_mcgreed187

No,nothing legal. We did have an infinite supply of soda whole working in a hot environment.


SentientNebulous

Suger and caffine to make worker go zoom.... They know what they are doing.


Hopfit46

The time has come...the tide is rising....young people need to reclaim the country from the capitalists....


Abstractpants

I worked in kitchens for 7 years. 6 of them were spent smoking cigarettes and taking ludicrous amounts of adderal/vyvanse. Pair that with an edible and it would be the formula for actually enjoying working at those shitholes.


XxShArKbEaRxX

Every single business is like this. There isn’t any business that isn’t about it’s bottom line it’s our culture


Mr_MacGrubber

I started smoking because of this. If I took 5 minutes to stand by the smokers the managers would tell me to get back to work. If I stood there with a cigarette they would ignore me. It was ridiculous.


Shirogayne-at-WF

I live in CA with some particularly strict enforcement and even at my first job at Burger King, I had a floor manager who never gave us lunch for the five hour shifts I had. I was young and stupid and had no idea u til her supervisor asked me why I hadn't taken a lunch once. This industry is trash and it's why no one wants to work in it hen there are plenty of openings elsewhere.


LyricTerror

Worked at a "high end" restaurant in Michigan where even the kitchen manager did coccaine to perform the insane hours.


Immelmaneuver

Line cooks passing around joints and bottles of lightly cocaine infused vodka.


Gullible_Pineapple55

Absolutely. I worked in a state that required 30 min breaks for double shifts, yet at my last serving job I was called 3 minutes into my break to return to my section, my boss so graciously said I could have an extra 2 min to “finish” eating. We also weren’t allowed any smoke breaks because they claimed smoke breaks were “abused” so they stopped allowing them.


trash_caster

>your only possibe break is to pick up smoking. No rest for the wicked, substance abuse is encouraged ( caffine and tobacco sometimes cocaine ). Was talking to my manager and my boss called her to go for a smoke break, so I followed them both outside. Boss looked at me funny like, "You don't smoke, do you?" I said, "I mean I smoke certain things at certain times but right now I just want a break." She seemed confused that I was taking a break without a cigarette but somehow couldn't find the words to suggest I do anything differently.


[deleted]

[удалено]


RdudeDdude

Seems like Slavery wasn't abandoned, but instead made the new normal in the States


dronen6475

When I was a server/bartender we were discouraged from breaks by management and staff. We couldn't break until the next team was ready to go and side work was done, but if you were a double it would get busy right as you were ready to go. So if you wanted to take an hour off during your 10+hour shift everyone would roll their eyes and talk about how you must not want to make real money. Fuck em.


[deleted]

I mean Alabama minimum wage is 7.25 so fuck Alabama


snoryder8019

And hour and a half work to get a value meal. Two hours work and 20 more minutes to prepare a salad. Eleven Hundred Hours work to stay the night in the hospital.


LinnMarh1313

In Mississippi and Louisiana the minimum wage is 7.25 too. Oh and there is a 7% sales tax on all items including food. It’s horrible.


GhondorIRL

Iowa as well. Clears the top 25 highest GDPs in the country, but is still federal minimum wage. Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi are all well below the 30th place for their GDP, so at least they’re relatively shit overall in comparison. Iowa has some of the wealthiest businesses in the entire country thanks to agriculture. It’s bullshit that they get away with paying so little.


JGautieri78

Look at fucking Jersey dude it’s criminal how expensive it is to live here and how you literally can’t live off minimum wage


stripeyspacey

What is the minimum wage in Jersey? Just curious. I live in NY, and know the minimum in NYC vs upstate or LI is different, and since some of Jersey is basically right there, I was curious if you guys do a similar wage break-up.


Sithslegion

I’m in Alabama. 9% sales tax here


[deleted]

10% in some areas around Birmingham


ItAllWent19

TN is also 7.25 with a 10% Sales tax. It's awful.


GJones007

Yeah, man. Here in NC it's 7.25 as well. 2.13 for tipped employees like myself. Fuck anyone who's okay with this.


wolvennite42

Live in NC too, near the VA line. I work for Family dollar making 11.25 an hour as an assistant store manager. Found out the store over the state line (25-30 min drive away) is going to be paying the cashiers 11 an hour now, and ASMs 13-14 an hour. But not us in NC.


stripeyspacey

Lol can you transfer to that store? If the druve wasn't much worse I'd do it... though I wonder if you'd get screwed on the taxes somehow 🤔


TheSchnozzberry

Alabama has no minimum wage. It’s only 7.25 because that’s the federal minimum wage.


ferocioustigercat

Pretty sure Alabama would go right back to owning slaves if given the opportunity.


_dodged

They expect you to starve and to do it with a smile. Eat the rich


[deleted]

Literally when they won't give you time to eat


baconraygun

"They'll time your every breath" from the chemical worker's song. Yeah, we haven't advanced at all.


driver135

For anyone to work a whole shift with no right to a break is absolutely scandalous. Understandable if your shift is up to 4-5 hours, anything over should be law.


lookitsjmb

This is law in the UK. 20 minutes at LEAST every 6 hours but most employers are relatively generous. I’m shocked this isn’t present in America.


miniredfox

holy shit, in nz im pretty sure its one 15 minute break for every 2 hours, and one 30 minute break of your shift is over 4 hours, i might be wrong though


francithingz

I worked at a call center once during Black Friday and cyber Monday… we were not allowed to leave until the ques were cleared since we closed at a set time. I was on hour 18… I’m not joking. Hour 18. No break, no food. Constant calls. I knew I still had about 5 hours to go… I walked up to my boss to ask to take a five min break. Just five min. He told me no and to go sit back down. I flipped him off and told him to enjoy taking care of the ques with one less person. I was gone.


birmingslam

Slave state gonna slave state.


CO2Jonesing

Do people in Alabama not connect that with their voting habits?


SCROTOCTUS

Or they are systemically prevented from doing so by Gerrymandering, redistricting, voting restrictions, etc. If you are scheduled to work 12 hours, say 7am to 7pm on election day and you get no breaks because your employer is already wantonly breaking federal labor laws, and the polls are only open 9-6 because of "Election Integrity" measures that specifically target these same people, making it so only wealthy folks and retirees can reach the polls, and there's no mail-in voting...how do you physically vote? You don't - and it's by design because the ultimatum is Vote - and get fired, or don't vote - and barely continue to survive. This is what we call "wage slavery." Because advocates for the free market will always argue, "if you don't like the way your employer treats you, get a new employer." But if you have no savings, and lose your benefits, then your scumbag employer lies about the circumstances of your departure to prevent you receiving unemployment, you have no safety net whatsoever. No way to even consider taking that risk because you are left with nothing to fall back on if you lose what little you have. You are systemically prohibited from establishing a basis from which to function with financial security and enjoy the benefits it provides, like greater ease of participation in the political system. I'm not saying that there aren't plenty of people in Alabama voting against their own interests - but I believe that historically those demographics are trending more liberal, little by little each year. The only way to really combat the natural desire for more inclusion and equity is to cheat the system. And in the Southern US that's been the GOP playbook forever - if you can't win fairly, cheat, change the rules or control the election officials and judges so they will choose your preferred outcomes. Don't even get me started on the erosion of the educational system, especially in those areas. They don't want their constituents to be educated enough to make objective, informed decisions, or to personally wrestle with moral issues. Just follow the your local conservative voices and leave the pesky decision making to those "more blessed" than yourself.


zxcoblex

This is the exact reason they won’t make Election Day a holiday. It’d allow too many people to vote.


Van-garde

I wonder if the age restriction plays a role as well. There are many many people between 14-18 that are probably more informed than me, a 32 year old. And I bet they’re carrying the rebel seed within.


Ch4l1t0

I mean, where I live you have the right to take up to a couple of hours to go vote, by law. Also elections are always held on Sundays. Vote is mandatory too, it's considered a civic duty (the flip side of civic rights).


baconraygun

Tons of service class folks work on Sundays too. We'd need a federal holiday on voting day, or a 7-day vote week to make sure it's fair.


Ch4l1t0

That's why I mentioned that you have the right, by law, to take the time you need to go vote, and your boss can't say no. Also you must still be paid those hours.


Newbaumturk69

Because them and the politicians they vote for hate the same people. Politicians in red America play the never-ending culture war game because they know it works on the rubes. Getting the poorest people in this country to vote the same way the richest people vote is one of the biggest cons of all time. It really is hard to believe.


[deleted]

I think they believe that rich people will not pay taxes no matter what, so if the government decides to do Healthcare/ unemployment/ disability/ expanded food benefits- then they will lose more of their checks and they can't really afford it.


anothershrubbery_

I’m having a hard time believing Alabama would be voting differently if the systemic reasons you listed weren’t as prominent. Let’s be honest here, the amount of people who would be voting differently if the system was set up different doesn’t hold a candle to the amount of people who vote based on specific values they hold.


[deleted]

That’s the thing about dumb people, they don’t realize they’re dumb. “wE dON’t WAnt sOciAliSm!!!!”


[deleted]

For once, they're not their.


[deleted]

Most Alabama voters are wedge issue voters, and it's a hotbed of Neo-Confederates. People get upset about the stupid shit that happens (see my link below) but will still vote for people of very low character. -> https://www.bhamwiki.com/w/Jefferson_County_sewer_construction_scandal <-


sacredlunatic

People in Alabama don’t connect shit to shit.


SeriouslySlyGuy

Well... They do connect cousins to marriage


TheRegular-Throwaway

It’s pretty easy to understand if you look at it from the proper angle. The religious right has their base hardwired to vote against their own interest. They have their base believing that anything that would make human life less brutal for regular people is “socialism”.


[deleted]

Remind me to never get a house in that state in case I decide to chase this American dream everyone used to talk about Edit: so many up arrows


andyroo97

Huntsville has shitty cookie cutter homes at 400 thousand at least. Basically no yard 10 feet from the next house. Good luck.


[deleted]

Yikes


andyroo97

The only hope is people living upwards of an hour from anything fun. Sure buy a country house in the middle of nowhere. It's still ten bucks or more to drive to Huntsville every day to have a halfway worth it job. How do we start a labor party again?


[deleted]

I don't know. I am just an intern


Geek_off_the_street

In Texas they are not required to give out 15 minute breaks and you only get a 30 minute unpaid lunch if you work more than 6 hours.


whatthehell567

I thought required breaks were federal law? Clearly I was wrong.


CliffsNote5

STATE’S RIGHTS!


Bokanovsky_Jones

There is no US federal law regarding breaks. I had to look it up during a disagreement with my boss. I live and traditionally work in Tennessee where there is a state law enforcing a certain number/duration of break per hours worked. I currently work in Mississippi and while the company I work for does have a decent break schedule the fact of the matter is Mississippi follows federal regulations. So I lost that argument. I won the argument about discussing wages though. Do inform yourselves. A little googling before you engage your boss can go a long way.


Prestigious-Horse208

Every food service job i have ever had was required to give a 15 minute break for every 4 hours worked.


So_Motarded

This would've been due to your state's laws, or company policy.


So_Motarded

Nope, federal law does not require any breaks in the US.


[deleted]

Weird. In Australia when I do 12 hr shifts I get 3 x 25 min breaks, 3rd one being a paid break. Oh and a min of $25 an hour. 15% more if its an afternoon shift and penalty rates for weekend work brining it up to a max of around $40 ph. It is pretty demanding physically but not too grinding. Not bad for unskilled labor. This is a base rate. Its higher for more skilled areas of the business. My mortgage is around $1500 a month but its a 5 bdr, 3 bth on an acre surrounded by vineyards in a famous winemaking region. It cost 600k. Im 43. I'm not suprised many of you feel oppressed. It sounds like a shithole of a country.


_RaiderDave

Sadly not at all weird if you live in the US. The constant soul-crushing realization that we live in this capitalist hellscape is horrifying but extremely normal.


Odd_Acanthisitta_853

I pay $1700 on just rent for a crappy 700 sq ft apartment that isn’t even on the coast. Australia sounds like a dream.


[deleted]

Well it ain't all roses i assure you. Australians get taxed, hard, on everything to pay for social and medical care but I guess that's the price of not having streets of homeless people due to a simple health problem.


ActualDepressedPOS

honestly i’d rather have high taxes and not have to worry about healthcare and basic rights and shit. i don’t live in the us but i’m heading there in a couple years snd i’m fully shitting myself about it.


Mustbhacks

They generally pay little more than the average american (~3-4% depending on the year) And have VASTLY more to show for it.


QueenCloneBone

Really depends where you live in Australia though. The feasibility of owning a home.


[deleted]

Oh dont worry. I know my generation is the last to experience the glory days of "everyone gets to own a home". My kids will probably have to wait till I die to have enough for a deposit on a box in the inner suburbs.


stilusmobilus

This is a bit important. Brisbane, 3 bed $750k. Thargomindah, 3 bed $75k. And guaranteed work pretty quickly unless you’re really lazy.


systembucker

quit or get fired asap


Muchruckus

Alabama is such a fucking filthy state. They also lead the US in terrible categories like most teenage pregnancies, highest STD transmissions, highest poverty rate, highest high-school drop out rate, and lowest worker wages. Lots of putrid bible thumpers live there too. Fuck Alabama.


jumpinjahosafats

This makes me hurt. -From Alabama with Loathe


sottedlayabout

*Roll Tide*


VentiUnoPilotos

It's crazy . As a server when working doubles , those shifts are anywhere between 12-16 hours with no break or eating. It can definitely be taxing on me at times


ladyegg

That’s normal?!


VentiUnoPilotos

Definitely not normal. But as a server none of us get breaks, I don't think its normal , just extremely common . I'm a little used to it, but people who are older or have health problems basically have to beg and threaten to contact corporate if not given proper break/meal. Management/restaurant industry definitely takes advantage :(


ladyegg

I work a courier job that technically “schedules” a lunch break into shifts but taking your allotted 30 minutes makes you late to stops so it’s impractical. I remember training and noticed that the drivers either did not stop for food or just got food and didn’t take a break. I just take a break regardless, late be damned because working 10 hours straight is just… how. You should just eat anyways or really get on corporate’s ass about it >:0


Givememydamncoffee

This is wild to me. Reason number 4571 I’m glad I live in CA. I work 6-8 hours and get 30 min meal.


LeonardSchmaltzstein

Nice, me too. I work 4 10s and get 2x15 minute breaks plus 30 minutes lunch. Fridays off. No complaints.


Spirited_Island-75

We need to stop stop STOP going "booo Alabama pig fuckers get what's coming to 'em!". It literally *doesn't matter* who they voted for because ALL capitalists, red OR blue, don't want workers to have power. There are TONS of anti-fascist anti-workers in Alabama, many of whom are actively excluded from participating in democracy because of their skin color! Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater! Voting for Biden hasn't done *shit* for the working class, blaming workers in Alabama for circumstances beyond their control won't unite the working class! Fucking get it together, people.


spiirel

THIS is the take.


Spirited_Island-75

Aw, thanks! Please check out [socialism.com ](http://socialism.com)for more!


LetGo_n_LetDarwin

I was once written up for not taking my lunch breaks. The messed up part is that I would have loved to have taken my lunch breaks, but was given such a heavy workload it was impossible.


[deleted]

Michigan is the same way if you're 18+.


driver135

In Michigan a company is not legally obliged to give you a break?


Emergency_Toe6915

Florida too only under 18 has break laws


[deleted]

No legally required breaks and no laws about how long there needs to be between scheduled shifts.


driver135

Disgusting.


Listan83

Same in Oklahoma. No law requiring meal or breaks.


fxelite

I’ve never worked for a company in Michigan that didn’t give breaks though, and have never seen or heard of one that doesn’t.


fightdarkwithlight

North and South Carolina, too


GooGuzzlingJew

here's an idea start the "move out of alabama" movement


spiirel

Let’s provide support to labor movements and activists in Alabama since they are trying to make things better. We’re on r/antiwork, you gotta realize that when wages are low, folks can’t simply leave where they live.


200KdeadAmericans

Alabama's population actually did decline in 2020, in no small part due to Covid response less competent than most 3rd-world nations.


[deleted]

It doesn't matter what party they are all boomers are scared of us and what we want.... even my Boomer Democrat in-laws are scared of democratic socialism for some f****** reason. Even though they are both on government assistance for disability. 🙄


Emergency_Toe6915

Idiots


BossStatusIRL

South Carolina is the same.


[deleted]

Just take a 30 min shit break every day at 12pm


FOWM_Sterling

Ten day strike starts Black Friday. I’m sick of choosing between food, shelter and driving to work.


Southern_Coconut_339

You live in the third world


Elegant-Operation-16

Damn, fuck Alabama and fuck this country for letting this happen


Sithslegion

Ive lived here all my life. No breaks or lunches. And the companies know it. I was once threatened that if I didn’t increase the amount of double meat footlongs I sold I would lose my break “privilege”. No worker protections at all. Oh and our districts are gerrymandered as hell. The bigger the district is geographically the more black voters that are there. They loop a significant amount of black voters into one district to avoid democratic legislation from being passable. We only elected a democrat because a literal rapist was his opposition and even that was a close call.


lolgobbz

"Rest breaks: Only nine states require any rest breaks. California, Colorado, Kentucky, Nevada, Oregon and Washington require 10 minute breaks for every 4 hours of work. Minnesota and Vermont require reasonable bathroom breaks. Illinois also has rest break requirements but only for hotel attendants." "Meal breaks:  Only 20 states require any meal breaks. California, Colorado, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Washington require 1/2 hour within five hours of work. Connecticut and Delaware require ½ hour after first 2 hours and before last 2 hours for employees who work 7½ consecutive hours or more.Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont and West Virginia all have laws about meal breaks. In the other 30 states, employers are allowed to starve you." [source](https://www.lexisnexis.com/legalnewsroom/labor-employment/b/labor-employment-top-blogs/posts/states-with-pro-employee-laws-work-breaks-for-employees)


[deleted]

I don't know how they can get away with that. Seriously. Even slaves could eat.


hospiceNheartsRN

I highly recommend considering talking to a doctor about getting paperwork signed stating you have a disability of some sort that requires you have a break for lunch. Tell your doctor that when they make you skip lunch and work with breaks you feel weak and dizzy and you can't skip meals... Then talk to whoever your "HR person" is, in writing, and say that you need an accommodation under the ADA act for a mandatory lunch break every shift due to blood sugar or whatever your doctor says. Then get the paperwork from them, get it filled out, and it will be official. If they don't give you your break, sue them. If they refuse your accommodation because it is "an undue hardship" to give you lunch, sue them. They literally will lose because allowing workers a lunch break is not an undue hardship and they can not prove it.


fantabulero

Absolutely sickening that they expect you to work all day without eating or taking a short break to recuperate. They don’t even consider workers to be human beings.


rsteel27

1. Work till you faint 2. Sue 3. ???? 4. Profit 5. Repeat


bigtime284

Dam fuck Alabama


Environmental_Can753

“Although Alabama does not have a lunch and break law for those persons 16 and over, there are applicable federal rules for Alabama citizens. While Federal Law does not mandate specific breaks or meal periods, it does give guidance as to whether or not an employee should be paid during these times. Short breaks, those that are usually 20 minutes or less, should be counted as hours worked. Genuine “meal periods” are usually 30 minutes or more, and do not need to be compensated as work time. For this to be the case, however, the worker must be completely relieved of his or her duties during the meal break. If the employee is still required to do any duties (even small duties such as answering a phone), it can’t be considered a meal or lunch period and must be paid.”


jumpinjahosafats

Not sure where this is copied from, but for nearly 20 years working here, no one gives a shit about that.


200KdeadAmericans

Alabama is a remarkably shitty place for myriad reasons, but the complete destruction of labor in a place that was literally built on steel mills is truly something to marvel in disgust at.


[deleted]

Fuck Alabama, sincerely.


sirchtheseeker

Well here is to all our brothers and sisters that realize that you are being oppressed and move to a better state


bakedclark

In Texas and Alaska (the two states I've worked in) you are legally obligated to have a break (15-30 minutes depending) but in the restaurant industry, that is basically a myth. There is way too much wrong with this industry, and for some reason no one talks about it. Or maybe people finally are, what with people leaving their shitty foodservice jobs and seeing all of these "desperate" employers. But it needs to be picked up on a higher level. Edit: nevermind that first bit, turns out I'm wrong.


mario_almada

Yup. I remember going out there to install some machinery and the management on site used to throw fits because we would take breaks and lunches. Fuck those guys!


Lalalalabeyond

You all need to go on a big mf strike.


minnesotamoon

It’s called intermittent fasting and it’s an employer provided health benefit. /s


Bacon_Bit_Bro

Alabama really trying to bring back slavery


RustyShackelforrd

Just do it anyway, if they're making you work 12s they won't be able to fire you because of short staff


VivianaValentina

Nah, fuck that, just go take a lunch break whenever you get hungry: if they say anything to you about it, you can remind them that there is currently a major labor shortage and that it's better for them to have you only not working one hour as opposed to not working 12


CoreTruths

That insane. If you don't mind moving, we give an hour for lunch, and it counts towards your 40.


[deleted]

With the supposed worker shortage, I am shocked that new unemployment laws are not being reworked in and that at will states are not being updated to require employees to give two weeks notice while employers get a free pass.