'Prep work' is paid work: Compensate for pre-shift tasks.

• Position: In The News...

Do some of your workers spend time preparing their tools or workstations before their actual shifts begin? If so, you're required to pay for that time.

A federal court recently greenlighted a class-action lawsuit by a group of New York road pavers. They weren't paid for their time spent at a central yard picking up assignments, assembling tools and traveling to the first job. (Diaz vs. New York...