Comments on: What to do when an employee skips out early https://www.evilhrlady.org/2012/10/what-to-do-when-an-employee-skips-out-early.html Everything to make HR better Fri, 05 Oct 2012 19:09:32 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: Gen X Dan https://www.evilhrlady.org/2012/10/what-to-do-when-an-employee-skips-out-early.html#comment-44538 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 19:09:32 +0000 https://www.evilhrlady.org/?p=2520#comment-44538 If the employee does not have a position that requires seat time (unlike a teacher, secretary, police officer, customer service rep, etc.), I think this type of trade off can work well for all parties. When parents have to leave work early to cart a child around, they are motivated to complete their work with maximum efficiency and often feel guilty when they are gone. Without the flexible lunch arrangement (free to the employer), the employee would have every incentive to take the entire day or half the day off. While many people enjoy the Type A supervisor who is Theory X… Clearly stating the rules and demanding compliance… Many others would prefer a compassionate supervisor who negotiates a minimum notice requirement. As an executive for the company/organization, I would be glad that we were able to provide no-cost perks to employees that demonstrated a teamwork/family culture.

]]> By: Evil HR Lady https://www.evilhrlady.org/2012/10/what-to-do-when-an-employee-skips-out-early.html#comment-44520 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:59:06 +0000 https://www.evilhrlady.org/?p=2520#comment-44520 In reply to A CA HR Lady.

I don’t think taking the lunch is the problem, or the letter writer would have mentioned it.

It’s sometimes really hard to get people to stop and say, “Why do we have this rule?” And when you can’t come up with a good rule, throw it out.

]]> By: A CA HR Lady https://www.evilhrlady.org/2012/10/what-to-do-when-an-employee-skips-out-early.html#comment-44519 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:58:18 +0000 https://www.evilhrlady.org/?p=2520#comment-44519 In reply to Another Evil HR Director.

I forgot to add that the meal period need only be 30 minutes long. So even if this employee was in CA, the manager could still work with her by reducing her lunch to 30 minutes and letting her leave 30 minutes earlier.

]]> By: A CA HR Lady https://www.evilhrlady.org/2012/10/what-to-do-when-an-employee-skips-out-early.html#comment-44516 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:46:26 +0000 https://www.evilhrlady.org/?p=2520#comment-44516 In reply to Another Evil HR Director.

California does have such a law (and has had the law for at least the time I’ve been doing HR in CA, which is 8 years, so it’s not new.) The employee can only give up their lunch under certain limited circumstances (unnecessary for less than 5 hours, waivers for less than 6 hours, or between 10-12 hours when the first lunch hasn’t been skipped.)

With all that said, we have no indication as to the location of the letter writer, so mandatory meal periods may not be an issue. I agree with Evil HR Lady – if the employee doesn’t need to be there until 5, what is the big deal? Just talk to the employee about the amount of notice needed and go from there.

]]> By: Stuart https://www.evilhrlady.org/2012/10/what-to-do-when-an-employee-skips-out-early.html#comment-44486 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:12:49 +0000 https://www.evilhrlady.org/?p=2520#comment-44486 This problem props up so much here in England and I’ve found a solution. To have regulations and rules, guiding when employees can/not leave early. This seems to work as it is set in stone and leaves no room for uncertainty.

]]> By: Another Evil HR Director https://www.evilhrlady.org/2012/10/what-to-do-when-an-employee-skips-out-early.html#comment-44484 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:49:35 +0000 https://www.evilhrlady.org/?p=2520#comment-44484 I believe California now has a law requiring employees to take a lunch break (go figure!). Although, I believe the law also has a provision for the employee to voluntarily give that up on occasion, but I could be wrong about that.

]]> By: Evil HR Lady https://www.evilhrlady.org/2012/10/what-to-do-when-an-employee-skips-out-early.html#comment-44382 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 14:13:08 +0000 https://www.evilhrlady.org/?p=2520#comment-44382 In reply to chris.

The Federal gov’t doesn’t require lunch breaks. As long as there’s not state law, then she can work through lunch. She has to be paid for it, though. I assume that she is.

]]> By: chris https://www.evilhrlady.org/2012/10/what-to-do-when-an-employee-skips-out-early.html#comment-44367 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 11:38:03 +0000 https://www.evilhrlady.org/?p=2520#comment-44367 Aren’t hourly employees required to take their lunch breaks? The letter does not specify if she is hourly or salary but thought there were problems allowing staff to skip breaks.

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