Hey y’all, it’s my first time posting something like this so I hope it turns out alright🤣
To start off i just started a new job at a cafe. This is literally only my 2nd shift and I feel like I’m having some troubles with how they run things.
I started my shift around 8:30 this morning. Things slowed down around 10:30 so I went to take my break. I made sure the dining room wasn’t busy, ran all of the orders (I’m a runner and busser) and cleaned the tables off. We also had three other runner and bussers doing the same job. About 20 minutes in my boss (i’m assuming she is i don’t actually know) said that on busy days they ask the employees not to take breaks or “eat as we go”. Because they feel they don’t have time to allow 30 minute breaks for everyone. Now my answer back was, “It was slow, we had 3 other R&Bs, and everything that needed to be done on my part was complete.” She still stuck by her position but she also claimed it wouldn’t be fair to everyone else and her and one of the owners are gonna talk to me about it when everyone is there.
Another thing i’m going to highlight is i’m 18 y/o. So in PA I don’t legally need a break but I hadn’t gotten anything to eat since dinner time yesterday so since things seemed fine I figured i’ll have something small and just enjoy 30 minutes of peace. I went back onto my shift and she was overly watching me and checking in on me. and then she sent me home 15 minutes early.
I’m gonna do some digging into PA laws to make sure that I am entitled to a break but something about this just rubs me the wrong way.
What does everyone here think? Because I truthfully don’t know what to make of this.
Also just a few other things, I feel like if someone doesn’t want a break that should be solely their decision. If the timing is good you pretty much can just go on break as long as there is someone at that station. (basic rules/common sense things). No need to ask for permission as there are 2-3 people per station.