Can I get in trouble for NOT working on my lunch break?

[rheged]

I was heading to the back of the store from my 1-hour (unpaid) lunch break when I saw a soda spill on the floor. The company i work for has stressed over and over that it it is against company policy to work off the clock and that I could be disciplined or even fired for it. knowing this, I quickly looked for the nearest employee on the clock. I found an assistant manager but when i tried telling him, he told me "hold on" because he was already talking to another employee (probably about something non-work related), I politely interrupted and told him there was a spill that I couldn't take care of it because I was off the clock and pointed him in the direction. I then went to clock in and as soon I turned on my radio I heard that a customer had slipped because of the spill.

The next day I was "written up" for not guarding the spill and because there was a customer injured from my "negligence".

Never has the company told me I had to guard a spill WHILE OFF THE CLOCK, if i was on the clock I would have completely understood. The only thing i was told about working off the clock was that it's not allowed. The same assistant I told, was the one who wrote me up, and i think he was just trying to cover his own *** cause someone had to be held responsible (pardon my language). Should I go talk to upper management or was I in the wrong. If I would've known someone was going to get hurt because of it i wouldve guarded it whether I got in trouble for it or not.

When it comes down to it am I OBLIGATED to work off the clock for any reason? By the way it's Wisconsin labor laws, in case it matters.

[berwin]

I was heading to the back of the store from my 1-hour (unpaid) lunch break when I saw a soda spill on the floor. The company i work for has stressed over and over that it it is against company policy to work off the clock and that I could be disciplined or even fired for it. knowing this, I quickly looked for the nearest employee on the clock. I found an assistant manager but when i tried telling him, he told me "hold on" because he was already talking to another employee (probably about something non-work related), I politely interrupted and told him there was a spill that I couldn't take care of it because I was off the clock and pointed him in the direction. I then went to clock in and as soon I turned on my radio I heard that a customer had slipped because of the spill.

The next day I was "written up" for not guarding the spill and because there was a customer injured from my "negligence".

Never has the company told me I had to guard a spill WHILE OFF THE CLOCK, if i was on the clock I would have completely understood. The only thing i was told about working off the clock was that it's not allowed. The same assistant I told, was the one who wrote me up, and i think he was just trying to cover his own *** cause someone had to be held responsible (pardon my language). Should I go talk to upper management or was I in the wrong. If I would've known someone was going to get hurt because of it i wouldve guarded it whether I got in trouble for it or not.

When it comes down to it am I OBLIGATED to work off the clock for any reason? By the way it's Wisconsin labor laws, in case it matters.

Dont go back to work until your 1 hour is up. I would respond to the writeup also and say you were on unpaid lunch break.