Pennsylvania Warehouse Workers Eligible to be Paid for Additional Work-Related Time

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided that warehouse workers are now eligible to be paid for additional work-related time. A few examples of activities include security screenings, walking to and from working stations, health screenings for COVID-19, and picking up necessary work equipment. An event in an Amazon facility in Pennsylvania led to the payment of work-related activities and decided to review the de minimis rule.

During the summer of 2021, it was found that employees at an Amazon warehouse in Pennsylvania were not being appropriately paid for security screenings. After completing their job duties and tasks for the day, employees were required to complete an anti-theft screening. At the time, workers were not being paid to complete the security search. The time spent waiting in line and completing the screening can sometimes prolong the time for workers to return home.

The Fair Labor Standards Act was established to ensure that employers keep a record of hours that employees work and that they are paid correctly. The de minimis ruling is the exception to this act. Originally, the company believed that the time spent in security screenings were considered to apply under the de minimis rule, which states that employees do not have to be paid for work activities that would only last for a few minutes. However, it was reported that workers could be waiting to complete a security screening for more than a few minutes each time. The Pennsylvania ruling decided that the time spent in security screenings was not considered to be under de minimis. As a result, workers are now able to be paid for time spent in security screenings and other activities that may take more than a few minutes to complete.

Additional work-related tasks can also be paid by employers. Depending on the circumstances, a few examples of approved activities can include time waiting and spent during a security screening, checking voicemails or emails, putting on or removing work equipment, and additional activities outside of work hours that can take more than a few minutes. It is important to note that there are specific instances of work activities that may or may not be included under the de minimis ruling.

We believe that it is important that workers receive the compensation that they rightfully deserve. If you or someone you know may be entitled to compensation, it is important to talk to an attorney. To speak with a workers’ compensation attorney, please contact our office at 800- 518-4LAW(529). A professional attorney will be able to provide more information regarding the case. For more information regarding wage and hour laws, getting paid for overtime, and workers’ compensation, please visit our website at www.oconnorlaw.com.