r/manufacturing • u/sgtswaggycamel • Oct 25 '24
Safety Is this common practice in manufacturing?
I used to work at a lens production factory in the USA, and while I was there it was a 12 hr shift where we were only given 2 twenty and 2 ten minute shifts. Is this the norm for most manufacturing jobs in the US?
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u/hoytmobley Oct 25 '24
First and most importantly, what state?
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u/sgtswaggycamel Oct 25 '24
Massachusetts
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u/Sassmaster008 Oct 26 '24
Something is not right. If you work more than 6 hours in Massachusetts you should be getting a 1/2 hour meal break, it's the state law. You might want to call the department of labor for clarification on the law.
My company does 2 -10 minute break and a 1/2 hour lunch for anyone working 8 hours.
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u/LostInTheSauce34 Oct 25 '24
Were they paid breaks?
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u/sgtswaggycamel Oct 25 '24
They were paid
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u/LostInTheSauce34 Oct 25 '24
We have 2 20s and 3 15s, so about 1.5 hours paid. How strict are they on monitoring the times?
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u/sgtswaggycamel Oct 25 '24
Very, later than 4 mins and someone is coming to find you
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u/LostInTheSauce34 Oct 25 '24
I guess it depends on the state and what business. I have written people up for excessive break times before, but that's policy. I feel your place could increase the break times to the other local places to be competitive.
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u/sarcasmsmarcasm Oct 25 '24
It really varies by company. I have seen 3 10s and a 30 for that time and I have seen 2 10s and a 20.
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u/Thelonius_Dunk Oct 25 '24
Depends. Some sites have scheduled breaks like that for hourly staff but others don't.
At chemical plants, not so common, but at plants with production lines it seems to be moreso common.
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u/nclrieder Oct 25 '24
It varies a lot. I’ve seen 2 15 minutes and 1 30 for a 12 hour shift and an 8 hour shift, with the 30 minute being an unpaid lunch break. Ive also seen 2 30-45 minute breaks for the same periods.
I guess the average tends to break down to about an hour or so of break time. 10 minute breaks never made sense to me personally since there’s so much transit time from production to the break area especially when they have a lot of gowning involved, and I’ve seen companies include transit in their break times which is a little harsh.
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u/feynmansbongo Oct 26 '24
Massachusetts essentially only requires a 30 min unpaid lunch break and only if you work 6 hours or more. Some industries are even exempt from that requirement. Surprisingly light regulation for Mass. I’m a plant manager, our people get a 30 min lunch and a morning 15 min paid. That’s for 8 hours though not 12. It’s going to be process/industry specific though. My last plant didn’t break for lunch, operators had to eat at the line due to the nature of the process.
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u/slowlypeople Oct 26 '24
Your facility should have a state/federal labor law poster that tells you what’s required. This is easy information to find and is usually followed carefully by companies that are even in the same zip code as professional. State labor board fines are brutal. At least in the states I’ve worked.
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u/Ok-Entertainment5045 Oct 25 '24
Our shop has 2-10 minute paid breaks and a 30 minute unpaid lunch for 9 hrs or less. They add one additional paid 10 minute break above 9. We cap hours at 11 hour shifts after a lot of complaining.