Working Before Clock-In or After Clock-Out: When Employers Must Pay Under the FLSA

Introduction: The Hidden Hours Employees Aren’t Paid For In today’s fast-moving work culture, many employees unknowingly give away their time for free. It may not feel like a big deal in the moment, logging in five minutes early, staying back to finish a quick task, or replying to a message after dinner, but these small actions often go unnoticed and unpaid. Over days, weeks, and months, this “extra” time quietly builds into hours of unpaid labor. The reality is that modern work environments have blurred the boundaries between work time and personal time. With smartphones, remote access, and constant connectivity,...