Report Companies Breaking Break Laws: Know Your Rights

If you believe your company is breaking laws on breaks, it is important to first make sure that your employer is, in fact, breaking the law. There is no federal law requiring your boss to give you a break, but 25 US states do have laws regarding breaks. If you are under 16, or a nursing mother, or covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, you are entitled to certain accommodations. Check your employee manual, and if you are a union member, check your contract. If you are certain that your employer is breaking the law, you could try talking to your boss, or your boss's boss, or the company's human resources department. If this doesn't work, you could file a complaint with your state's Department of Labor, or with the U.S. Department of Labor. You could also file a claim with OSHA if your employer is failing to provide adequate time to go to the bathroom.

Contact your local law enforcement agency

If you suspect your company is breaking the law, it is important to first make sure that your employer is, in fact, breaking the law. People often wrongly assume that they are entitled to certain things that are not enshrined in law.

If you are certain that your company is breaking the law, it is recommended that you do not try to take matters into your own hands. Dealing with businesses can be daunting, so the first step is to contact your local law enforcement agency and file a complaint. You can simply phone in and file your complaint. After you have done this, a detective or officer will usually be assigned to check out your complaint, and they will then ask for a statement from you.

When filing a complaint, it is important to gather as much information as possible to support your case. While third-party complainants may not be able to provide all the necessary information, having more details will help authorities address your concerns effectively.

In addition to contacting law enforcement, you may also want to reach out to other relevant government agencies, such as the Department of Labor or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), depending on the specific violation. For example, if your employer is failing to provide adequate time for bathroom breaks, you can file a complaint through OSHA.

It is also worth noting that there is no federal law in the United States requiring employers to provide breaks to their employees. However, 25 states do have laws regarding breaks, so it is important to be aware of the specific laws in your state. Additionally, if you are a union member, you may have contractual rights to take reasonable breaks, which you can find by reading your workplace contract.

Before taking any legal action, it is generally advisable to first try addressing the issue directly with your employer. Start from the assumption that they are unaware of the legal issue and bring it to their attention in a courteous manner. This approach can often lead to a better outcome than making it clear that you think your employer is knowingly breaking the law.

Finally, remember to avoid attempting to take matters into your own hands. Even if you are certain that your company is committing a crime, always involve the appropriate authorities to avoid finding yourself in a complicated situation.

Contact your State Attorney General's Office

If you believe a company is breaking the law, it is important to contact the relevant authorities. One option is to reach out to your State Attorney General's Office, which deals with a wide range of consumer complaints and problems. Here are some steps and considerations to keep in mind when contacting them:

Contacting the State Attorney General's Office:

• Identify the Correct Office: Each state has its own Attorney General's Office, so ensure you reach out to the one in your state. You can usually find their contact information through a simple online search or by visiting the official website of your state's government.
• Understand Their Role: The State Attorney General's Office is responsible for protecting consumers and ensuring businesses comply with state laws. They can help resolve disputes, identify potential violations, and even build lawsuits against companies that break the law.
• Preferred Method of Contact: While you can usually contact them by phone or mail, many Attorney General's Offices encourage the use of online complaint forms. These forms allow you to provide detailed information about your issue and attach relevant documents.
• Provide Detailed Information: When filing a complaint, be as detailed as possible. Include specific dates, times, names, and any other pertinent information. If you have any supporting documents, such as bills, contracts, or advertisements, attach them to your complaint. This information helps the Attorney General's Office evaluate and investigate your case effectively.
• Understand the Process: Once you submit your complaint, it will typically be assigned to a staff member within a few days. They will review your complaint and may contact the business in question, requesting a response. Depending on the nature of your complaint, they may attempt to mediate or resolve the issue directly with the company.
• Follow-Up: If you don't hear back or the issue remains unresolved, don't hesitate to follow up. Contact the assigned staff member or the office directly to inquire about the status of your complaint. They may provide you with additional guidance or options for further action.
• Be Aware of Limitations: It's important to know that the State Attorney General's Office may not be able to provide legal advice or representation to individual constituents. They also cannot compel a company to resolve a complaint. However, they can offer mediation services and refer you to other agencies, regulators, or lawmakers for further assistance.

Remember, it is always best to seek legal advice from a qualified attorney if you have specific questions or concerns about your rights and options.

Contact the Department of Agriculture

If you need to report a company for breaking laws on breaks, it is best to contact your local law enforcement agency and file a complaint. You can also contact your State Attorney General's Office, especially if the business does not have a physical office in your state but is still operating within it.

Now, if you need to contact the Department of Agriculture to report a company for breaking laws on breaks, here is some information that might be useful:

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) works with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to ensure fair and competitive livestock and poultry markets. They encourage farmers, ranchers, producers, consumers, and members of the livestock, meat, and poultry industries to report incidents of:

• Slow, insufficient, or non-payment for livestock, meat, or poultry.
• Potential antitrust practices.
• Unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent practices by entities subject to the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act).

You can file a complaint or tip with the USDA and DOJ Agricultural Markets Enforcement Partnership by completing an online form, sending an email to PSDComplaints@usda.gov and ATR-USDA-PSAComplaints@usdoj.gov, calling their toll-free number 1-833-342-5773, or sending mail to:

USDA, AMS, FTPP-PSD, Stop 3601, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-3601

When reporting an alleged violation, provide as much information as possible, including:

• Names of companies, individuals, or organizations involved.
• How you believe they have violated the P&S Act or federal antitrust laws.
• Examples and details of the conduct that you believe violates the laws.
• Your role in the situation.
• Who is harmed and how they are harmed by the alleged violations.
• Your name and contact information (if you are willing to discuss the issue further and want to be contacted regarding your complaint).

The USDA and DOJ will protect your confidentiality and will only share your information with other agencies if necessary. They will review your complaint and determine the next steps, which may include opening an investigation. Due to the confidential nature of investigations, you will not be notified if one is opened.

Please note that the USDA and DOJ will not respond to every message individually, especially when there is a large volume of correspondence on a particular issue. However, all incoming messages will be reviewed for possible violations.

Talk to your employer

Before taking any action, it's important to make sure that your employer is indeed breaking the law. People often assume that they are entitled to certain things that aren't enshrined in law, such as fair treatment, paid vacation days, or a warning before being fired.

If you are certain that your employer is breaking the law, it's usually best to start by simply talking to them. It's often worth taking this approach even if you're sure that your employer knows their actions are illegal and just doesn't care. It's best to start from the assumption that they don't realize there's a legal problem, and that you are courteously bringing it to their attention.

For example, if your boss is requiring you to work unpaid overtime when you're non-exempt, try saying something like, "We're required by federal law to pay overtime to people in my job category. I can work the overtime if you want me to, but the company is required to pay for it."

Or, if you're devoutly religious and your boss is requiring you to work on a religious holiday, you could say, "I've spoken to several employees who don't feel their religious practice requires them to observe it. Because we're required by federal law to accommodate employees' religious practices, could we schedule them that day instead of me?"

Note that the tone of these examples is collaborative, not adversarial. You're looking out for the company's best interest, not making a legal threat. Your goal here is not just to assert your legal rights but also to keep a good relationship with your employer.

If you talk to your employer and point out the law, but nothing changes, you'll have a decision to make about how far you want to push the issue. The law might give you a remedy, but it's also probably going to make your working environment difficult and might even make it harder for you to get hired in the future if employers worry you're litigious. If you decide to proceed, your next step could be to talk with a lawyer or your state's labor department.

Contact your state's Department of Labor

If your employer is breaking the law, your first step should be to talk to them about it. Start from the assumption that they don't realise there's a legal problem and that you are courteously bringing it to their attention. It's worth taking this approach even if you're sure that your employer knows their actions are illegal and just doesn't care. This stance will usually get you a better outcome than making it clear that you think your managers are flagrant law-breakers.

If you've already tried this approach and nothing has changed, you have a decision to make about how far you want to push the issue. The law might give you a remedy, but it's also probably going to make your working environment difficult and might even make it harder for you to get hired in the future if employers worry you're litigious. If you weigh these factors and decide to proceed, then your next logical step is to either talk with a lawyer or—depending on the law in play—your state's Department of Labor.

Before you try that, try a straightforward conversation with your employer. It might be all you need to solve the problem with all parties happy. If not, you can contact your state's Department of Labor to file a complaint. They will likely ask for a statement from you.

After you file your complaint, a detective or officer will be assigned to check out your claims and will then want to get a statement from you firsthand. You can simply call in and file your complaint with your local law enforcement agency.

Frequently asked questions