One time, I had a few co-workers who were part of a union. For working 8 hours, they had a right to take a 15-minute break after the first 2 hours of work, a 30-minute break at the middle of their shift, and a 15-minute break before the last 2 hours of work. What turned out to be bad about this was that these guys would be working. Whenever it was slow, they would stand around and do nothing. When heavy customer traffic started to build up, they would walk up to the manager and say... "Break time! It's after 4 hours, so I am supposed to have a 30-minute break!" The manager had to agree to let them take their break. What do the rest of us employees get stuck with... more work and angry customers.
When I worked at a local video rental store in the past, I always made sure that the customers were happy. If it was slow, then I would offer my employees to take a break and get it over with. I would sit in the back room too. If an employee called the back room asking for me while I was eating a sandwich, I would stop eating and go help him instead of saying... "Sorry, I'm on a break. Too bad!"
I disagree with you. It is the law to take breaks. I have always had breaks at my jobs because it is required by law. They tell me about those breaks before I start my job. I have never worked for a union, so the break thing has nothing to do with a union. I dislike union simply because you have to pay money to be in it.
At my last job, all of the managers lacked a real break most of the time. They were always up and forgetting their lunches. This is really bad for employees. They hated it, but they did it because they allowed that to happen.
I think that this is unfair, and a lack of training in their workplace. Why it's a lack of training? Because a lot of times the managers wanted to be on break all at the same time, and I understand their need to gossip (which I don't think is right), but that's why we have more than one manager in a store, so that we can take turn taking breaks. This is what I think is lack of training and planning to make sure everyone takes their rightful breaks. You don't get paid for your lunch time, but they worked anyway. That's what I call, taking advantage of employees.
With all of the hours that managers work, they need a break. It's good for your overall physical wellbeing to unwind. That's why the law exist. One time, I was called out of my break, and that did not make me happy. There was someone else to take over my duty, but I'll never understand what happened. Maybe the manager just had a pissy day. I never allowed them to abuse of my break times because they were my rights as an employee. If you let them abuse your break time, they will take advantage of that. I saw it all. I saw the assertive employees, and the ones that weren't assertive being taking advantage of.
I always made sure to take my breaks, which was 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 15 minutes for a full day of work. It really helped me unwind after working really hard. It helped me think better to do my job better.
Now, I know what you're saying about employees who waste their times because I have seen employees disappear while on duty only to find them chatting on their cell phone or meeting with friends or relaxing some more. That's something different from break time. Maybe the place you took your car to was just making excuses for them because two 15minutes break and a 30 minutes break has nothing to do with the union. It's the law.
I don't know how you do it, but it sounds like you are perfect for the job of long hours and management. I still disagree that managers should be interrupted during their breaks.
Too much to do.