I’ve been working as a medical office receptionist for almost 4 years now in WA state. I work for an IME (independent medical evaluation) company, where we evaluate medical claims (worker’s comp, Labor & Industries, etc).
I work over 14.5 hours some days without a break. I “signed” over my rights to a lunch break, so I have a “working lunch.” We get food delivered for the doctors and myself. I can’t eat at the front desk (nor can I leave the front desk) so I rarely ever get time to eat, since I am required to be at the desk at all times.
What I am most concerned about though, is rest breaks. I’ve read that WA state requires employees to get rest breaks. I don’t ever remember signing my rights away to a 10, 15, or 20 minute work break. Is that a thing?
I find it super tricky. Our main client is L&I, and L&I is the agency that sets the labor laws in WA state. My parent company is worth over a couple billion dollars, so I feel powerless. I am just exhausted of being overworked, understaffed, and underpaid. It has me exhausted, and is costing me relationships and further opportunities because I have no time or energy to apply for other jobs.
What would you do if you were in my shoes?
TLDR- working shifts much longer than 8 hours with no breaks allowed, signed away rights to a lunch break, but is not given any rest breaks. Is that a thing? Can I report it to L&I when L&I is my company’s largest client?