What to do if I wasn’t given my breaks and worked alone as a minor?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What to do if I wasn’t given my breaks and worked alone as a minor?
I have been working at a pretzel shop for 1 year and 3 months. l turned 17 2 1/2 months ago. I have closed the store alone but lately more. I wasn’t being given my breaks. I had to close alone and touch a dough bowl I am not allowed to because I am under age but my manager knew that and didn’t do anything about it. I called the company and told them the problem and all the said is that they would call my manger and have her give me my breaks. But my aunt told me its illegal to not get my breaks and for a minor to close alone. I want to know what legal action I can take from this?
Asked on July 27, 2011 California
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Under most state and federal laws, employees are entitled to 10 minute breaks for every 4 hours worth of work given every 2 hours. Likewise, there are requirements for a lunch break as well. The 10 minute breaks are part of your compensation.
If you have not received payment for such, then you need to go down to your local labor department to speak with someone about your situation. It seems that your employer is taking advantage of you. You are under the age of 18, a minor.
You might consider speaking with a labor law attorney as well about your work situation and what has happened in the past in order to prevent the apparent labor violations in the future.
Good luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.