My employer didn't pay me for 3 hours that I worked, should I report them to the Department of Labor?

It's been really busy at my place of work and by company policy I'm suppose to take a 1/2 hour lunch every day that I have coverage. There were 2 weeks that I didn't have time to take a lunch because we were just that busy and I couldn't get time to take a lunch. My boss told me that she was going to "dock" me for a total of 3 hours because I didn't punch out for lunch. I explained that I worked the entire day and didn't punch out because it was to busy and she said that it didn't matter and that it's company policy that anyone that does not take their lunch gets "docked" and she takes away 30 minutes of pay for every day that you didn't punch out. The thing is that it's 3 hours of pay total that I worked and she is refusing to pay me for just because I didn't punch out for lunch since I didn't have time. Is it worth the time to report them to the Department of Labor or is it going to be a waste of time? Won't I just get compensated for the 3 hours of pay?

Thanks for any help!

Ask yourself if you need this job or not. If you do this is what i suggest....let the three hours go. But next time that the store is busy take your lunch anyways. If they aren't going to pay you for thirty minutes then you don't work for 30 minutes. Its your job to make sure that you are getting paid for what you work. If its company policy more than likely you signed a form acknowledging that if you don't clock out, you still don't get paid for the 30 minutes. Reporting it to the department of labor may get your 3 hours of pay but will also put a big target on your back.

They can do that by law, unless you agree before hand that the time you work will be your over time period and payment. You are required by law to take your break. You chose not to take your lunch breaks without agreeing with the management that you would be paid for that time you worked.

If I were you, I would not go straight to the department of Labor, I would go to your bosses supervisor or the Human Resources division of your company. That is illegal. They can't make you work through your lunch, nor can they make you work unpaid. Your employee handbook should state your employer's exact rules.

It sounds like your boss is a nit wit. On the other hand it is not worth reporting her to the Department of Labor. It sounds like to me that you were treated unfairly. This is really too small a matter to get involved with this agency. Also reporting it to this agency will cause you problems at work. Just be sure that you always punch out in the future. Oh just an aside the head of the Department of Labor is named Elaine Chow. The woman isa Horror Show. If she was your boss she probably would not have paid you at all. Good Luck Bob