At my store, the computer is obsessed with giving 3-3½ hour lunches after the start of your shift. Its BEYOND stupid. It only makes the day go longer imo. I'm not sorry, but I am NOT taking a lunch 3-3½ hours after the start of my shift. Like today, I was supposed to go at 11:15; I started at 8:00 am. I decided to go in my lunch at 12:15pm. So far management doesn't seem to care, but the booth girl (who THINKS she runs front end) has written All lunches MUST be taken ON TIME. NO EXCEPTIONS unless approved by management.
What does she care when we take our lunches? Quit letting the computer schedule early lunches, and then maybe we can take lunches on time instead of us (me) going 4 hours after my shift on my own.
Lunches can be given a minimum of 3 hours in. So long as there's a 5 hr time frame between breaks it's legal. If you're in a department that operates best to schedule it must be taken on time. If you're not in a department where going to schedule matters then take it when ever. So long as you take one during your shift it's good.
At Local 1996 Atlanta, breaks can be any time after the 1st hour worked. And while the feature is there to schedule lunches, we don't use that feature of eschedule. The benefit is you can always make your breaks/lunches have coverage. In Atlanta you just wing it and hope the front end doesn't burn down.
My store is famous for giving early lunches. But as long as there is coverage, you can take your lunch later. You cannot just decide 'Oh, 3 hours is too early, I'm going to take it at the 4th hour.' You have to see if there is enough coverage. More than likely there is.
Now the store I was helping out at for a month was also famous for giving 3 hour lunches. But, they were STRICT on taking lunches as assigned, EVEN IF IT IS 3 HOURS after your shift start. If you take it more than 5 minutes later you better have a good reason.
My store keeps scheduling the two evening closer at the same time. Not smart. Zero cashiers during prime time. yea f* that. Close self check in the process. yea that's great for business.
Lunches are supposed to be taken as assigned. Simply put, if your manager assigned you to work checkstand 2 for the day would you not do it because you dont like that checkstand? No? Didnt think so. Youd work it because that's what you were assigned to. Same with lunches. You take them when assigned. As long as its within contract rules, it's ok. Not hungry when you have an 'early lunch?' Dont eat until then. Take your lunch as assigned and deal with it.
Or talk to your manager, pic and see if there is coverage BEFORE deciding to take your lunch later.
