A Kentucky hospital system is facing a lawsuit over alleged violations of both federal and state labor laws regarding meal breaks. The complaint, filed by Brittany Hamilton, accuses Ashland Hospital Corporation of failing to provide hourly employees with uninterrupted lunch breaks. Hamilton claims Ashland Hospital Corporation, which operates under the name UK King’s Daughters Medical Center, is in direct violation of both the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Kentucky law. Hamilton had worked as a security officer at the medical center since February 2023. She claims the security dispatcher consistently interrupted her designated 30 minute lunch breaks with calls that required her immediate attention. According to Hamilton, the hospitals policy forces security officers to remain on call during lunch breaks. They cannot turn off their radios at any time and must respond to dispatcher calls within minutes. As a result, Hamilton says she was unable to take a proper meal break and often abandoned any attempt to eat or drink altogether. Although Ashland Hospital Corporation does not provide security officers with an uninterrupted meal break, the company still automatically deducts 30 minutes from their pay each day for a meal period. Hamilton claims that there is no mechanism for workers to correct these automatic deductions or report when they weren’t able to take a break. As a result, the hospital underpays employees, including for overtime hours. Hamilton had previously reached out to Ashland Hospital Corporation in a letter outlining the issue and requesting the company make changes to their policies, but the hospital failed to respond. As a result, Hamilton is now seeking to recover her unpaid wages from Ashland Hospital Corporation. She is also looking to represent all hourly, non-exempt employees affected by the hospital’s meal break practices over the past three years. The case highlights broader issues in the workplace concerning meal break practices and raises questions about how employers are managing their hourly workers rights. Understanding Your Rights to an Uninterrupted Meal Break The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require employers to provide lunch or snack breaks. However, if employers offer short breaks (typically 5 to 20 minutes), the FLSA considers these breaks part of your working time. This means employers must include these breaks in the total hours worked in a week and when determining overtime eligibility. The FLSA treats meal periods differently from shorter snack or lunch breaks. Meal periods, which usually last at least 30 minutes, are not paid time meaning they do not count toward an employee’s working hours. Meal periods are also not a requirement under FLSA. However, if employers provide meal breaks, the FLSA explicitly states that they must be uninterrupted and employers must fully relieve employees from all work duties during the meal break. If an employee works or stays on call during their meal period, the employer must consider that working time and pay their employee accordingly. In Hamiltons case, the lawsuit argues that the practice of requiring security officers to remain on call during their lunch breaks forces them to continue working through their meal period. Therefore, Hamilton argues that the hospital should consider this working time and compensate security officers and other impacted employees accordingly. Its crucial for workers to understand their rights regarding meal breaks and overtime pay to ensure they are receiving fair compensation for their labor. Contact Us Today! If you or someone you know has experienced issues with unpaid meal breaks, missed overtime, or other wage and hour violations, seek legal assistance today. Our employment law attorneys at Working Solutions law firm in New York City, Livingston, New Jersey, and Boston, Massachusetts are here to help. Contact us today at (646) 430-7930 for a free case evaluation. Our experienced legal counsel will review your situation, explain your legal options, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Don’t let your employer’s mistakes impact your pay. We’re here to help you advocate for your rights!
