Pennsylvania Donning and Doffing

Employees have filed Pennsylvania donning and doffing lawsuits alleging they were not properly compensated for the time they spent putting on and taking off specialty and/or safety gear for their work-related duties. Such wage and hour claims allege that when employees should be paid for donning and doffing the missed compensation results in unpaid overtime. Wage and hour lawsuits may also be filed against employers who fail to pay employees for time spent logging into or out of computer systems before or after their shifts.

Donning and doffing refers to the putting on and taking off of specialty gear, safety uniforms, or other job-related items before and after shifts and during breaks. Not all employers pay workers for this time, but if the gear is essential to the job being done, and if the employee has no control over when and how the gear is put on, the time might be compensable. Donning and doffing lawsuits have been filed against employers who refused to pay employees for that time, or who did not compensate them for all time spent in such activities.

Similarly, time spent in other activities—such as waiting for security checks, moving or obtaining vehicles, and logging into and out of computer systems—might also be compensable if that time is vital to the work being done and benefits the employer. Time spent preparing for a shift or closing off a shift can add up to 20-30 minutes per shift. If that time is considered overtime, it could mean a great deal of missing wages.

In 2016 a lawsuit was filed against the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation by six employees who alleged they should have been paid for time spent moving equipment from storage facilities to worksites and back before and after shifts.

According to court documents filed in relation to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs spend anywhere from 10 to 90 minutes transporting vehicles and another 15 to 60 minutes completing an inspection of the vehicles and equipment before shifts. That time was allegedly not paid.

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Last updated on Nov-29-16