California Court Ushers In Sweeping Changes For Scheduling Policies

A California Court of Appeal just announced a sweeping change in California's reporting time pay rules which now prohibits a common scheduling practice used by employers throughout the state (Ward v. Tilly's, Inc.). Yesterday's decision means that California employers who require employees to call in two hours before a shift to determine whether or not they are needed, and report to work if called in, are now obligated to pay that employee, at a minimum, for two hours of work even if the employee is informed that there is no need to come in to work that day. Unfortunately, the case left many questions unanswered and, as a result, you should be careful to craft scheduling policies that avoid the same pitfalls seen in that case.