Working the second half constitutes “free time” and is punishable by termination. That would also result in 30 minutes of “unauthorized overtime” unless I clocked out early. Which is **exactly ** what I’ve been doing for the last two years. . .
Maybe I’ll just turn to a life of crime. Anybody need some legs broken? Buy two get one free! I have my own tools. 
What medical justification does your doctor give?
I refuse to write such requests for patients, unless they have legitimate medical needs for the consideration.
Doctors who fail to adhere to such standards do their patients and their practice no favors.
Then, if I may suggest - negotiate a short lunch/early day during your next (annual?) review, and suck it up until then. Alternatively, you should be able to get the employer to break up the second half of the break, maybe?
Surely there’s wording in your contract, then?
My first thought was “this guy ain’t american,” but apparently you are. Maybe it’s a regional thing.
None of the jobs I’ve had in the US carried a written contract. None of my US coworkers had one either. Heck, getting copies of the policies that were being applied to me often was like pulling teeth.
And so you assumed that the doctor’s note could give any reason at all? HR folks have a name for employees like you. 
Anyway, I’m not surprised a “doctor’s note” was no more successful than one from Epstein’s mother. “Doctor’s note” in this context generally means a medical certification–not any old note that happens to be written by a doctor.
Union contracts are called collective bargaining agreements and they are written.
I seem to remember something about federal law that requires non-exempt workers who work for 8 hours a day to receive a one-hour break. This was enforced at my current company when I was non-exempt.
Even if that’s not the law, your employer could be under the impression that legally, they are required to give you the one hour break during the day even if you don’t want it. They’re covering their ass from potential legal action.
1/2 an hour, not one full hour.
Yeah, this sounds pretty much like fraud to me. I’d probably stop pursuing this avenue if I were you.
This just sounds like you are pissed at having to stay the extra half hour and want to leave earlier.
I apologize for the hijack, but I just had to give a shout out to this. It is the first thing that made me laugh today!
I wanted to find a clip from Kotter to illustrate for the uninformed, but I just don’t have the patience to wade through all of the Kotter Youtube clips. None of my searches nailed it.
Anyhow, thanks, Gfactor! 
I’m no help for a clip, but here’s the wikipedia summary:
The OP mentioned he was unionized, hence, as Gfactor mentions, would have a “contract” in everyday banter. Possibly both local and national contracts. I suggest that he look in his contract, because there may be no wording this allows a variation on lunch or break times. Permitting such a variation may invite the filing of an unfair labor practice with the NLRB by other union members who are jealous of this special treatment.
When I worked in a union shop, when the whistle blew, you’d damned well better put down your work for 15 or 30 minutes. Not doing so would get you written up.
Yeah, I’m guessing that the whole problem stems from the union’s CBA. Federal law doesn’t require businesses to grant a full hour for lunch. The union probably negotiated the one hour.
While the the previous manager was willing to “look the other way” the new manager doesn’t want to. You really can’t blame the the new manager, by letting the OP take a half hour for lunch he is violating the CBA. My advice is, take it up with the union. It’s possible they could have special wording put in the next CBA that would make an exception and allow you to take the half hour lunch.
The contract states something to the effect of no less than 30 minutes and no more than 60.
I’ve had one “performance review” ever in my 9 years with the company. They are basically meaningless since rate of pay is based on hours worked rather than actual performance.
I know it seems childish and stupid, I’m the first to admit that. But the only reason I even talked to my doctor, was because the company said to.
I’m not commiting fraud, or milking the system. I 'm not looking for a payoff. I just want to know what the law actually is. (and I *am * researching it myself as well)
All I’m doing, is asking the company, “Cite?”
See posts 19 and 29. The law is they can schedule you however they like, subject to some accommodations they might have to make for religious or medical reasons. I’d still like to see what the doctor’s letter said.
A couple days ago it got so hot that the birds roosting in the rafters started dropping dead. The company requires a “Dr.'s note” (that is a note written by a Dr., not a ‘medical certification’ :)) to posess bottled water at one’s work station.
FYI, I personally don’t think you’re being unreasonable. I just don’t think you’re going to get any further with this particular line of inquiry.
Out of curiosity, do you have any back problems? If your doctor’s letter says something to the effect that, “taking a half hour lunch and leaving half an hour early would be beneficial with regard to your back injury/complaints/chronic disc degeneration/whatever” it will probably be taken much more seriously.