Commentary About Donning and Doffing Laws –
What you need to know about Donning and Doffing Laws
According to the US Department of Labor, each non-exempt employee must be paid for hours worked. Hours worked can include meals and breaks while on the job. Unfortunately, there are some who work in various industries that require workers to don and doff protective equipment. These industries include but are not limited to:
-Hazardous materials plants
-Food processing plants
-Foundries
-Law Enforcement
-Manufacturing plants
The putting on and taking off of protective equipment can be time consuming and can take time out of the non-work day of a worker. Imagine having to spend 30 minutes each day donning your protective gear BEFORE you can clock in. That is 30 minutes of time multiplied by 260 average work days equates to 78 hours for which you are not receiving compensation. Is that fair? Many people seem to think otherwise. In 2012 Butterball LLC agreed to settle a class action lawsuit with Arkansas plant workers. The company agreed to back pay approximately 25 minutes per day for the time it took employees to put on and take off work gear and protective clothing that was required for their job. Read more here…
What are my rights as an hourly worker under donning and doffing laws in Arkansas?
To learn more about your legal rights as an hourly worker under the Arkansas Fair Labor Standards Act and whether you can file for compensation, contact the our law office to speak with Mr. Buchanan, an attorney in Little Rock who is highly respected and cares about your legal rights.