Compensable Hours Worked

Apart from overtime and minimum wages, both state and federal law require employees to properly pay employees for "hours worked." Over the years, the courts have determined that any activity during which the employee is under the employer's control might constitute hours worked. Employee claims for back wages often include:

• Travel time;
• Loading tools and materials or other “off-the-clock” activities;
• Waiting time or on-call time (i.e. waiting to be engaged v. engaged to be waiting);
• Donning, doffing and other activities preparing for work;
• Required meetings, lectures, training and team building activities;
• Overnight travel;
• Commute time after arrival at the office or first job site.

Problems can arise if these issues are not addressed before the employee gets to work. Cook Brown has solved this problem for clients by setting the right policy, training supervisors and advising employers on how to implement proper company practice. When disputes arise about hours worked Cook Brown works with employers to prevent and defend such claims.