The University of Pennsylvania was among seven healthcare systems sued yesterday on allegations that the hospital did not properly compensate nurses and other employees who worked during meal breaks.

Susan Phillips, chief of staff at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, said while UPHS had not had time to go over the complaint, the executive board has “only the highest respect for the staff and will carefully review the matter.”

The suit was filed by the law firm Thomas & Solomon LLP, which has brought similar suits against healthcare systems in various cities across the Northeast.

According to these suits, payroll systems at the health systems automatically deduct compensation for workers’ half-hour break each pay cycle.

The long working day for these staff members is an accepted and often welcomed part of the hospital culture, Bill Cruice, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Despite this, however, federal and state law requires employees be compensated for all work they do, during lunch or otherwise.