Can My Employer Force Me To Take A Certain Amount Of Time For An Unpaid Meal Break?
Thank you for looking at my post, I’ve been looking on the internet for answers and haven’t been able to find anything.
For context, I am a full-time employee for a government office. I am over 18 and am paid hourly. I am not a part of a union. When I was hired, I was told in the interview that I would be required to work 40 hours a week, and had flexibility on times when I would start and end my shift. The office is open from 8-4:30, so I work those hours and take an unpaid 30 minute lunch break and two paid 15 minute breaks, so I end up working 8 hours. I was told today that they now want (only) my specific department to be open from 8-5 (possible 8-5:30 down the line), and are now requiring me to start at 8 and leave at 5. This means I have to take a 1 hour lunch break. If they switch to 8-5:30 I’ll be required to take a 1.5 hour lunch break. They also shot down suggestions of staggering worker clock in times (like one person working 8-4:30 and another 8:30-5).
One of the biggest reasons this bothers me (besides being somewhat lied to about the hours I would have when I was hired), is that we are required to use PTO for any medical appointments. Sometimes I could get away with making appointments after work, but doctor’s offices are rarely open past 5. So with this new adjustment I have to take a ridiculously long lunch break, spend more time in the office, and will have to take PTO to leave early for doctor’s appointments.
Is there anything legally wrong with this? Is it possible that my job can force a longer lunch time so that I have to start work earlier and leave later? I’m worried that I’m going to have to take 1.5 hour lunches later on since they’re considering extending our business hours even more.
Thanks for reading and I appreciate any insight!
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