This includes activities like:

• Answering work calls or emails from home
• Setting up or closing down your workstation
• Completing "quick" tasks after clocking out
• Attending brief meetings before your shift
• Being available during meal or rest breaks

You Must Be Paid for Every Minute

The California Supreme Court has ruled that employers cannot avoid paying you by claiming these tasks are too minor to count. If you're working, you must be paid period. Even five minutes a day adds up to significant unpaid wages over time.

Common Violations by Employers

Many employers illegally try to avoid paying for off-the-clock work by:

• Telling employees not to record small amounts of time
• Requiring work during meal and rest breaks
• Expecting after-hours availability without pay
• Making employees finish tasks after clocking out
• Failing to provide a way to record extra time worked

Your Legal Rights When Working Off the Clock

Under California law, you have the right to:

• Be paid for ALL time worked, no matter how brief
• Receive overtime pay if off-clock work pushes you over 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week
• Take uninterrupted meal and rest breaks free from work duties
• Receive accurate pay statements showing all hours worked
• Recover unpaid wages plus penalties if your rights are violated

How We Can Help

If you've performed unpaid work outside your regular hours, Frontier Law Center can help you:

• Calculate how much unpaid time you're owed
• Determine if you're entitled to overtime pay
• Recover penalties for missed breaks and wage violations
• Hold your employer accountable for wage theft
• Ensure you receive all compensation you've earned

Don't let employers take advantage of your time. California law is clear: if you work, you must be paid. Contact Frontier Law Center today for a free consultation about your off-the-clock work situation.