Sigh. My work history consists of a lot of different management positions, but the job i am currently at is the first time that i havent had that kind of responsibility. Kind of refreshing on some level not having the added stress but it is shocking how little my coworkers know about their rights as employees. They had never even heard of a meal penalty before i got there and our clock in system relies on self reporting for meal penalties so they missed out on a lot of money.
Some people were not even making LA minimum wage which i pointed out during one of those anonymous survey things they give us every once in a while, so thankfully everyone is at least bumped up to that.
Fast forward to the last few weeks, we have a meeting in which upper management claimed to have spoken with legal, and instead of us receiving a meal penalty for working anything over the 5th hour, even if its just one minute, they are now saying that the verbiage is “by the end of the 5th hour” meaning that according to them we can work 5.99 hours with no lunch and not get a meal penalty.
I have been involved with payroll at a few jobs prior to this here in california, and they would make people sign a meal waiver in order for people to legally be able to work through the 5th hour without receiving a meal penalty. Thing is none of my coworkers remember signing anything like that when hired, so we should still be eligible to receive the meal penalties, at least per my understanding. My reward for pointing this out was getting my typical 5 days a week cut down to 3.
This is just one of several issues i have with the gm at this place. As he slowly turns me into the joker i look back fondly at the times he instructed me to defraud several businesses such as waste management and cvs, giving special privileges to his family member that he hired there who turns around and does literally whatever he wants without repercussions, and many other things.
I am trying to find a new job needless to say. Its just hard leaving the homies behind but if this guy continues taking food off my table i will really have no other choice. Thankfully i have several healthy coping mechanisms to channel my rage but i would be lying if i said ive never thought of getting him fired on my way out, maybe even help the guys form a union