Hourly workers in California should receive appropriate wages for all the time they work. State rules are very clear about the requirements to properly compensate employees paid on an hourly basis. Unfortunately, businesses have an incentive to try to minimize what they pay workers. Some companies take their attempts to maximize profits too far and may infringe on the essential rights of their employees.
For example, they may try to trick workers into performing work without appropriate compensation. Workers who are familiar with some of the tactics employers might use can assert themselves and demand the pay they deserve.
How do some employers try to avoid paying workers for the job they have done?
By training them to work off the clock
One of the most common tactics businesses use to justify denying workers pay is to train them to accept uncompensated job tasks as part of each shift they work. Companies may insist that it is standard practice for workers to do certain prep work before clocking in or to clean and secure the building after clocking out at the end of a shift. Workers might form an hour or more of unpaid tasks every week if they fall victim to this particular tactic.
By having workers be available on standby
A worker subject to standby requirements is not free to do what they want with their own time. Instead, they have to be available to receive a call from management and come in for the entire time that they are on call or on standby. California does not allow employers to require standby or call back time without paying at least minimum wage to the worker who must be available should the company need their services.
By asking for weekend coverage
Some companies need coverage during non-business hours for their social media accounts or company email inboxes. Instead of paying workers for their time and availability, they may instead demand that they respond to emails or even take calls when they are technically not on the schedule. Workers may put in several hours on the weekends without any pay. Any routine job tasks, however sporadic, should lead to pay for the worker providing those services.
Workers who realize that their employers have violated their rights may be able to take legal action. Filing a wage and hour lawsuit can lead to compensation for time previously worked without appropriate pay. Employees who assert themselves can hold businesses accountable for denying them their earned wages.