Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

THERE are work-related tasks that employees do for the employer’s benefit but for which they are not paid. If these activities fall within "work time" employees must be paid for them. "Work time" is essentially the time an employee spends on activities that are controlled by and for the benefit of the employer. This includes all the time that the employee is required to be present at the workplace. The following activities may be compensable:

1) Changing Uniforms or Washing up at Work

Time spent changing clothes or washing on the employer’s premises is compensable if it is compelled by the necessities of the employer’s business. This means that the changing or washing is an "integral and indispensable part" of the employee’s principal activities or they are required by law or the employer’s rules. Other such integral and indispensable activities include preparing or cleaning tools or equipment or any preliminary or postliminary activity necessary to perform the work.

2) Training Programs, Lectures and Meetings

Time spent by employees attending training programs, lectures, and meetings are counted as hours worked if employee attendance is mandatory and all of the following criteria are met:

1) Attendance is during regular working hours.

2) Attendance is not voluntary. If the employee is led to believe that the employee’s present working conditions or the continuation of employment would be adversely affected by nonattendance, the employee’s resulting attendance is not voluntary.

3) The course, lecture, or meeting is directly related to the employee’s job. Training is directly related to an employee’s job if it is designed to make the employee handle the job more effectively as distinguished from training for another job or a new or additional skill.

4) The employee performs productive work during such attendance.

3) Intern Programs