No Rest for the Waged: The Quiet Crisis of Stolen Break Time in America's Workplaces
Across industries from fast food to logistics, millions of American workers are being pressured, surveilled, and manipulated into surrendering legally protected rest time. Despite a patchwork of state laws designed to safeguard breaks, enforcement remains weak and retaliation against workers who speak up is common. This piece examines how the theft of rest time operates, who it harms most, and what workers can do to fight back.