Complaint Review: United American Insurance

I am writing on behalf of my wife. My wife Barbara started with United American Insurance company on 08/2006. She was originally told by her human resource person, that if she smokes, that she would need to come into work early to be given the time needed for her smoke breaks.

She worked with the company and continued on to get past her probationary period. My wife works as a Customer service person and is always on the telephones. The area is well understaffed and her direct manager has been sending notes to the group to not take breaks and lunched as follows:

We need everyone's cooperation today to get the unavailable percentage back to the acceptable range. There is no reason we should not be able to do it.

Everyone needs to take no more than a 15 minute lunch and if you get off before 5:00 you will need to stay until 5:00. Sorry for the short notice.

If you have any questions please get with your Supervisor or myself immediately.

I have never heard of such requests and am under the impression, that this is very illegal?

Geo
Mckinney, Texas
U.S.A.