I did that, and then the pandemic happened. Some people have to make sacrifices, and you clearly don’t understand how fortunate you are if that is your current work situation. Your experience doesn’t reflect other people’s experiences. It also doesn’t justify injustices.

It’s not the same as free time. You are bound to the location where you work, and you are eating in order to remain an effective and healthy employee. It is an essential human right, but it is also essentially work time and aught to be compensated.

Not everyone has that option, and that’s why I’m asking for advice on advocating for change. I’m getting tired of writing that comment, and telling me to get a different job is not helpful.

That is logically incorrect. You cannot do the same things you would before or after work. If you want to go home, you’d still have to drive (that is, if you can even get home and back within thirty minutes). You are essentially bound to the location you work at. And, just because you’re not being paid for a commute doesn’t make unpaid lunches okay. Everything you said is not sensical, and also not very helpful.

That’s an effective strategy for one person. That doesn’t help those that can’t do the same. If you don’t share the same opinion, then you don’t have anything to offer to this conversation unfortunately.

Just because it’s similar to not being paid for a commute—although it really isn’t—that doesn’t make it right. And, it’s not free time. You are taking lunch in order to remain an effective employee. You can’t do everything you would if that time was available at the begging or end of your shift, and therefore they are taking some of your freedom in exchange for nothing. I believe it should be compensated.

I keep typing this, and I don’t understand why nobody seems to understand. Just because you aren’t working doesn’t mean it’s free time. You are eating in order to remain an effective employee, therefore it is a part of working and should be compensated.

You are eating in order to be a more effective employee. It’s a basic human right—and it’s not the same as working—but, it’s not free time.

Just because it’s “no different than you not being paid for your commute” doesn’t mean it’s right.

Other labor issues don’t necessarily reflect my experience, and someone else can work on those if they choose. Your privileges while on break also don’t reflect my working conditions since moving to MA, so you might not feel as strongly about this as I do.

I’m looking for some insight into changing what I believe is an injustice. It doesn’t have to be a fantasy to fight for workers rights, but it seems that the general opinion lately is “why bother?” That’s pretty unsettling, and ultimately not helpful.

Not everyone has that option, though.

It’s not an hour. Most people only get thirty minutes of unpaid lunch. And, it’s not the same as free time. You can leave and go get food, but you can’t do everything you could if that time was provided to you at the beginning or end of your shift. You are eating so that you can continue working effectively. If you don’t feel like that time aught to be compensated, then that’s fine. But I do. If don’t have suggestions as to how someone could fight for this change, then you’re not really reading my post.

The law—as I understand it from the link I posted—is that six hours of work entitle you to a thirty minute (possibly unpaid) lunch. I understand that you are free to go to your car or go outside, but my point is that it isn’t the same as free time. It’s time allotted to keep you working effectively. Therefore, that time helps your employer more than it helps you.

As I mentioned before, they are removing freedoms someone would otherwise have. It’s not free time, it’s “stay healthy at work” time, and should be compensated because it’s entirely related to being able to work more effectively.

Also, finding a different place of employment is a temporary solution for one person. I’m not asking about that. I want to know how to advocate for change that helps everyone, especially those that don’t have the option to quit and work somewhere else on a whim.

Not everyone has the privilege to choose their working conditions. That’s why citizens advocate for laws and government intervention when necessary.

Because it’s not free time, it’s time that employers encourage you to take in order to continue working effectively. Sandwiching—no pun intended—unpaid lunches between work hours takes away freedoms you would otherwise have if that time was given back in the form of shorter shifts.