Posted on 05/09/2009 7:52:12 PM PDT by givemELL
"Who knew the badge, the holster and the iconic dark blue threads worn by Los Angeles police officers could make punching the clock so complicated?
A federal judge ruled this week that Los Angeles Police Department officers should be paid for the time it takes them to put on and take off their uniforms and safety equipment, a decision that could cost the city millions of dollars in back pay and higher salaries."
"In a 39-page ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feess found that the several minutes it takes an officer to dress for duty is a vital part of the job because "police uniforms convey and legitimize officers' authority, increase officer safety, and help deter crime."
The dress time, which is generally thought to be between five and 15 minutes on each end of a shift, Feess decided, falls under the compensation rules of the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act,...."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Will the UAW demand dressing compensation at GM?
And a good night’s sleep and healthy breakfast make them better able to be effective officers. Perhaps they should be paid for that too.
Can’t wait until my employees demand payment for getting dressed in their uniforms.
I guess I should be on the clock 24/7.
Tell me what will happen. I love a good horror story.
What about taking a dump before clocking in? Shouldn’t they get paid for that too?
I work for a pharmaceutical company. Our employees are paid for seven minutes, at both ends of their shifts to change.
If I have to put on a uniform at my place of work and take it off before leaving, I think that time should be considered part of my job.
I’ve been an employment attorney for many years. It does not often take 39 pages to state the law correctly.
A precedent for slackers everywhere. :-)
That's the policy at my workplace. 14 minutes per shift to gown and degown.
Several decades later I continue to find small splinters of vanadium steel that've worked their way through my skin.
We did not get time for putting on or taking off our workjeans, just for washing our hands, faces and arms. Those cops got it soft.
Wonder if that federal judge ever had a real job in a real place.
So tying shoes? Just curious because I can see shoe tying becoming a 45 minute affair.
Especially with the government being unlimitless in funds and all.
Funny how union employees want to be treated as professionals yet act like the rank-and-file clock punchers they are.
Well, I would say that an employee should be considered to be “at work” when getting ready for any special equipment and/or required preparations prior to starting work.
I’ve had a couple of jobs where it was a very minor part of the job to don some “outfit” prior to working, and I never did that *before* clocking in on the time-clock. I always got ready *after* clocking in. It was nothing written up and/or required, but that’s what I did and it made sense to me. I didn’t wear my “outfit” to work and back home again and I was suppposed to take it off when I left, too (even when going to lunch, for example).
Some thing just make sense and this makes sense...
BS, ok lets include driving time and make it apply to everyone and the well just buy them all a condo and the beach and skip the work part. That judge has not got enough common sense to fart.
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Orange County FL deputies are officially “on the clock” the minute they get in their “take home” car and hit the road to the station... which probably means that they stretch that policy to include flipping on their cell phone while eating breakfast prior to leaving the house.
Might depend on just how long it takes someone to "get ready" to go to work.
Lots of constructive thoughts on this one.
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