I started a new part time job in January at a small business with “socially conscious” vibes (). I soon realized that my boss was adding 15 minute unpaid breaks to my timecards. I usually eat at work, but I consider myself “on the clock” because I’m still available to answer the phone, tend to customers, etc. I usually take less than 15 minutes. There typically isn’t anyone else working with me, so I don’t feel that it’s possible for me to take an actual break.
I’ve been sitting on this for a while, unsure what to do — but recently I noticed my boss had started adding thirty minute unpaid breaks to my timecards, which really pissed me off! It all feels very passive aggressive. She complains whenever anyone forgets to clock in, because it’s sooo much work for her to go into the system and change the timecards — but it’s not too much work for her to painstakingly remove slivers of time from each of my timecards. And apparently it’s not enough labor to warrant any transparency about company break policies. She’s never spoken to me about clocking out for meals, or made clear that I’m allowed to take breaks. Maybe she knows that what she’s doing is unethical and illegal.
I live in Minnesota, and the DOL website states that any break equaling less than 20 minutes will be paid — and any employee on break must be completely relieved of their duties. I called the DOL to make sure I had a proper understanding of the law. I explained my situation, and they assured me that I could file a complaint against my employer or file a claim for the wages that were withheld. Has anyone been through either of these processes? What would be the benefits/downsides of doing that vs. calling out my employer in the employee slack thread? I’d like to be sure that my coworkers know what’s going on.