The issue of “donning and doffing” has been in the news again lately, thanks to the case of Perez v. Moutainaire Farms, Inc. right here in North Carolina.
Donning and doffing refers to the action of putting on or taking off protective gear, uniforms, etc. that are required for the job and kept at the workplace. Employees have to change into or out of the special gear after they arrive at your site, but before they can actually start work. It’s a common practice at locations such as nuclear power plants, steel refineries or poultry / meat processing facilities.
The Question Is…
…Should you have to pay employees for time they spend getting ready for work? It turns out that depends on what they’re doing and where you’re located. Here’s a sampling of rulings from various Federal Appeals Courts up and down the east coast:
