I just started this job in January, and thought the lower paychecks were because I had to take a pay cut to come here. I mentioned it to my coworker and she casually mentioned that they take an automatic half hour out of each day that I don't clock out for a break. Which I know is super illegal.
Yesterday I mentioned it to another coworker and he confirmed that it's policy here and that the higher ups say if you don't have time for a break write it down in the missed punch book, but I was never informed of this when I started. Does having a place to write it down negate the illegality of taking my hours? I was missing five hours on my last check, and they took them all out of one week, which I can tell, because I should have had a few hours of overtime that week and didn't.
When I asked about it this morning from another coworker she said yes, they do, and she also agrees that it's illegal. But then she said its illegal for me to not take a break, even though I'm already only being scheduled 7 1/2 hours a day, and I'm pretty sure it's never been illegal to not take a break. It might be required by your company, but I haven't found any literature stating the legality of it one way or another.
I want to go to the labor board but I'm worried I've missed something that somehow makes it all okay, what steps should I be taking?
Btw I live in Iowa for anyone looking at state laws.
Edit: just to be clear, no one is stopping me from taking a break, I don't generally have time for breaks, but that's not the point. They are taking 30 minutes a day out of my hours Regardless of Whether I did or did not take a break.