I (18M) have been an electrician apprentice (or trainee) for the last five months at a non-union company. So far, everyone I’ve worked with is nice and likes me so far, but I’ve been considering switching to a different company because of some of the rules they have.
When I was first hired and I asked about the break policy, they told me this: “Oh, most employees don’t take rest breaks, they just take a longer lunch to make it more convenient for everyone,” I so far have been the only person that takes rest breaks (except for a journeyman- let’s call him Patrick), but he clocks out for the 10 minute break (which is legally paid, and he clocks out for 30 minutes and works for FREE during the LUNCH BREAK). Everyone who waives their lunch leaves 30 minutes early, but my boss doesn’t like that.
Most of my fellow apprentices ask me why I take the rest breaks. I explained to them that I have prediabetes and I take the time to recharge by eating an orange or a bag of almonds and drinking a Spindrift, and if I take a longer lunch, I’ll have no snacks to rely on through the day. Patrick blurted out proudly that he only needs a banana to stay fine through the day, but he’s not a really reliable source, and he smokes a joint right before work every single day.
So what do you think about this? Here’s my rant