nikon | (no subject)

I've been crying for the last half hour.
I was just let go from my job. And for something that wasn't my fault.
It seems that on Tuesday I was 8 minutes over the 5 hour limit to go to lunch. At walmart this is cause for a write up. But because I had gotten sick earlier this year, and had a write up for going home sick back in May (you can have only four sick days every six months, the day I went home made it five), company policy was to let me go. Both the store manager and the assistant manager over me didn't want to fire me. They very much stressed that, and I was told that I have a job waiting once the six month hold I have on reapplying is over. Doesn't help me much in the meantime. Though they did both say I can put them down as personal references. That's something I guess.

I'm going to have to wait till Thursday to look for another job, as there isn't enough gas in my car to do any running around, and this Thursday will be my second to last paycheck, I'll get a tiny one two weeks after, for the four hours I worked today. I'll hit the few computer places around here then, and start searching the want ads. What a horrible time to be looking.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That truly is the dumbest reason I've ever heard for being fired (for working overtime? The hell?). If I were you, I'd check with the Illinois department of labor, because if that's not illegal, that sure sounds unethical. At least the store management recognize what a bad place that puts you. I hope you can find something soon.

Not overtime. For not getting to lunch before the limit.

That really can't be legal >.>

*snugstight*

Sadly, it is not only legal, but legally advisable.

Labor regulations require that employees be given a break after X hours. As a major employer, the only sane thing for WalMart to do is take a zero-tolerance policy towards this. Otherwise, any disgruntled employee could claim they were forced to work without a break.

And walmart in particular's been sued for that sort of thing a lot.

*hugs* Sorry that happened. As stupid as it is, you'd have been in less trouble simply not punching back in and going home for the day. We've had associates do that a couple of times to avoid the meal exception.

I didn't even know I had exceptioned. It came as a complete shock to me.