I serve as a correctional officer in North Carolina at a prison. We operate from 8 pm till 8 am. The next squad was late to relieve us, but I had already been relieved of my housing unit. Now, it was 808am. Since I had a long drive home, I asked my sergeant if I could resign. She ‘s saying yes. In front of a lieutenant, this was achieved.
This lieutenant obviously had an issue with that and talked to the sergeant about how wrong it was that I did that. She was reportedly scolded.
My sergeant claimed in our next briefing that squads are short and we can often leave after 8 am. She said that a disciplinary write-up should be issued by “this guy,” and if this happens again, then that write-up will be followed through.
Notes: We’re not going to get paid until 8 am. We quit ALL THE TIME after 8 am and don’t get paid for it. We get paid for lunch for 1 hour, if that somehow makes a difference.
1) Does the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and/or state law of North Carolina violate this?
2) Any violations of other laws?
3) Was I entitled to leave?
4) If they try to compel me to stay, or write me down to leave, what are my remedies?
