Time and attendance missteps cost Neb. employer millions
A $3.3 million dollar ruling against a Nebraska meat processing plant over the exact definition of working time has benefited about 8,900 employees.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska decided that the employer, whose workers need to put on and take off protective equipment as part of their duties, had incorrectly compensated such employees by not properly paying them for time spent donning and doffing their gear, according to HR.BLR.com. The lawsuit also claimed that time spent sanitizing personal and line equipment was also ignored.
The company had compensated employees only when the production line was in operation, along with an additional four minutes per shift for any other duties. The court found that the business didn't keep records of any employee time not spent on the work floor.
Donning and doffing time has been the subject of other lawsuits filed by food processing workers. A recent case in Wis. saw a group of 330 employees paid about $195,000 because of a similar ruling by a county court, according to Wisconsin Ag Connection.
Tracking all employee time spent on work tasks and the use of time and attendance software can help businesses enhance their compliance efforts and properly pay employees.
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