Outside Circumstances Prevent Shift Completion

Outside Circumstances Prevent Shift Completion

I went to work for my scheduled shift and had to leave after an hour because of a bomb threat in the building. I wasn’t able to go back to work that day because the building was shut down, therefore I didn’t work my full 8-hour shift. Should I receive reporting time pay?

No. A bomb threat is considered as an event that could potentially threaten the safety of employees and property and prevents business to operate. For circumstances such as a bomb threat, you are not entitled to reporting time pay and you should only receive pay for the 1 hour you worked.

Example:

Jane was scheduled to work an eight hour shift starting at 9 am. Jane and all the other employees were sent home for the day by their employer at 10 a.m. because of a bomb threat in the building. Bomb threats are situations that could jeopardize the employees or the property so an employer may send employees home without having to pay them reporting time pay. Jane would not be entitled to reporting time pay and should only be paid for the one hour she worked from 9 am to 10 am. If Jane was sent home for a reason other than a bomb threat that was based on an employer’s scheduling error, Jane would be entitled to reporting time pay and may file a reporting time pay wage claim in California.

If you have a question about California reporting time pay law or want to file a reporting time pay wage claim in California, contact Strauss & Strauss APC now.