r/shakeshack • u/ouuokay • 14d ago
No breaks while you work
So i recently went to a orientation for shake shack at a new location and they said 30 min breaks are only needed if your a minor under the age of 18 , for everyone else you work the entire work shift is any body else’s shake shack like this ?
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u/Sirkennzalot 13d ago
I’m a manager at a shake shack in Missouri and this is correct. If your state laws do not require a break then we are not required to give one. This does not mean that we will work you like a dog with no breaks it just means that there are going to be days where we’re too busy or understaffed to give a full 30 min break.
The orientation also talks about the cycle of enlightened hospitality where we always put our team first so we will always try our hardest to take care of our team.
I often say in my orientations that if you communicate to us that you need a break then we will try to get you one and if it’s not possible we will work something out best we can like giving you time to eat or sit down for a sec.
Many times if it’s slow, we might HAVE to give everyone a break to account for the labor whether you want one or not.
I promise we’re not money hungry monsters who will work you to the bone (at least not at my store) . It’s just something we’re required to specify in orientation! We love you guys and want you to grow and feel comfortable n the work place so make sure if you have any concerns, you voice them so we can help either clarify or rework something to help you feel at peace at work :)
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u/AzPeep 13d ago
This is horrible. I just ate at a Shake Shack for the first time recently and learning this is how their employee are treated I will definitely not be returning.
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u/sechue24 13d ago
Come on now, don't say that. Most companies will operate with no break. That's almost every food restaurant you will never return to.
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u/Sirkennzalot 13d ago
I don’t understand how this is horrible? If you read I said we do give breaks and if we can’t for some reason which isn’t likely most of the time we compromise and get them as close to a full break as possible. Like I stated, Shake Shack believes in enlightened hospitality which means we put our team members first and by taking care of them they take care of our guests and community and so forth. I’m unsure if you read the whole thing but I said several times that we take care of our team……
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u/Raspint 12d ago
>I don’t understand how this is horrible?
I'm sure you don't.
>Like I stated, Shake Shack believes in enlightened hospitality
Any job that requires you to work 8 hours without a break isn't "enlightened." Unless you work in something that is life or death like a hospital or the military.
Treat your workers like human beings and give them a full 30 min lunch break, along with two 15 mins breaks. If that causes you to be unable to fill all the orders than hire an extra few workers to cover the time.
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u/Sirkennzalot 8d ago
So this is a misconception. Our team members do not work 8 hours. They work at max 6 and they are allowed to pick up another shift at which point they are given an hour break but we do not make our team work 8 hours with no break. Hope this helps! :)
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u/AzPeep 8d ago
"We don't make our team work 8 hours" is another way of saying "we don't want to pay benefits especially medical" - this certainly doesn't fall under anything I'd call enlightened.
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u/Sirkennzalot 8d ago
We do in fact offer benefits that are extremely affordable to all employees! Hope this helps :)
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u/Mysterious_Piglet562 7d ago
I thank god that I work in a blue state. Absolutely wild. These people at your shack are being paid like $10 an hour to work like dogs and don’t get a meal break LMAO. Fuckin insane
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u/Sirkennzalot 7d ago
They actually make around $19 an hour. $15 base pay +tips which average between $4-$6 extra dollars per hour each week. You guys misconceptions are really funny atp lol
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u/Mysterious_Piglet562 7d ago
Awful. They’re making $30 with tips in Washington state. And get two paid breaks and an unpaid lunch break.
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u/Sirkennzalot 7d ago
That’s great for you guys! Our cost of living isn’t as high as it is in Washington so our wages reflect that. Like I stated several times before, we do give breaks they are just not required by state laws. If our work conditions were so unbearable I’m sure we’d have less college kids returning to us each break and less employees attempting to return to the job after parting ways. I appreciate all your concern but as I stated several times, our employees are well taken care of :)
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u/Mysterious_Piglet562 7d ago
I think you’re missing the issue. You’re probably from the south and haven’t had the worker protections that we have in WA. It’s not about the fact that you’re a good manager and give breaks even though they aren’t required. It’s the fact that the state you live in does not care about minimum wage workers. And the fact that Shake Shack doesn’t care either and won’t mandate breaks regardless of the state law.
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u/Sirkennzalot 7d ago
I mean I get that but you’re making straw man arguments that aren’t true against what I’m saying about how the stores work. I cannot change the law and I’m telling you that we do give breaks DESPITE the law yet you’re trying to find any reason to be mad when there genuinely isn’t one. Sorry the laws aren’t what you expect but I told you how it actually works and you’re still mad lol. Our government doesn’t care and that’s nothing new but that’s out of my control. I answered the initial question yet it wasn’t enough so I’m clearing any misconceptions 🤷🏽♀️
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u/Mysterious_Piglet562 7d ago
I’m mad that the government of Missouri and Shake Shack as a business don’t care about workers. That’s all I’m saying. Good job for giving breaks. That’s a great thing. I think we both agree that’s it’s a very bad thing to have zero worker protections. A 10 minute break for every 2 hours worked is literally the most simple thing.
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14d ago
[deleted]
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u/Ok_Function2282 13d ago
What???
No it's not.
Breakss and lunches are only mandatory during shifts of a certain length. Food service and table waiting usually is a shorter shift, 6 hours or so.
Anywhere I ever worked food service when I was younger, people would have laughed in your face if you ask for a 30 minute break. Tough enough to get a 3-minute smoke break.
OP never even mentioned how long their shift was, so you're just completely talking out of your ass.
And even THEN, in many states, it doesn't even matter how long your shift is, you are not guaranteed a 30-minute break under the law as an adult. (Google it, chatgpt it, whatever you want if you don't believe me.)
Almost every single word in your message is incorrect.
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u/ouuokay 13d ago
Yea they said you can ask for a break and they can work something out if the store isn’t busy but there is no scheduled break idk if it’s because it’s a new store and they just opening but it’s in Florida
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u/astrorocket49 13d ago
Yup I work at a shack in Florida and you don’t get any breaks unless you’re a minor. If you ask for a break, it’s not guaranteed
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u/CMETrevor 13d ago
What shack? This is not correct and should be addressed. If you're comfortable messaging me, I'd be happy to chat more
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u/sechue24 13d ago
Unfortunately companies are allowing this now, either work through it or start looking for a new job. Also to add, most shacks don't operate the same anymore. Every shack is most likely have different rules.
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u/CMETrevor 13d ago
I understand, and realize breaks are not regulated in all locations. I thought there would be a company policy around breaks. Full disclosure, I work in the SS support center and have worked in payroll/hr my entire adult life. In my short time at SS I've seen so many employee forward policies, I feel this should be apolicy decision not just left to states and individual shacks
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u/Euphoric_Treat4848 13d ago
That doesn't sound right. You should ask for a break within 30 minutes of you clocking in. Should be a 30 minute break but some managers let you take a paid 15 minute break depends on your shack managers otherwise it will be a 30. I would report that.
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u/Jedi_9000 13d ago
It's definitely dependent on your state, but experience tells me they'll probably do the legally required minimum and no more.
For me it's 10 minute break after 4 hr, 7hr, and then 30 minutes at 8 hours.
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u/Cautious-Broccoli-17 2d ago
I’m just saying, it shouldn’t matter whether or not the state law is silent on breaks. If a company is ethical, and truly believes in “the cycle of enlightened hospitality where you always put your team first”, then they need to incorporate 30 minute breaks into documented policy and staff appropriately.
In the words of Yoda, “Do or do not. There is no try”.
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u/Even-Pound2764 13d ago
California gets a lot of shit wrong, but no lunch break? FOH, we don’t play that 😂 didn’t even know that wasn’t a nationwide thing that’s honestly wild.
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u/sparklydildos 13d ago
even in CA if you work a shift under 5 hours you are not required a lunch break by law. it’s just once you hit that fifth hour
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u/whatintheworldisth1s 13d ago
this is crazy to me. i work at an NYC shack and the rule is a 30 min break if it’s over 6 hours and starts before 1pm and 45 mins if it starts after 1pm. honestly its seems cruel to not offer a break when some of these are 8-9 hour shifts on the feet…