If an employee shows up for work at his/her scheduled time but is sent home before half of his/her scheduled day’s work because of inadequate scheduling or lack of proper notice by the employer, then the employee may be owed “reporting time pay.” If this happens, then the employee must be paid for half of his/her usual or scheduled shift, but in no event for less than two hours and no more than four hours at his/her regular rate of pay.
For example, if an employee reports to work on time for a scheduled eight hour shift, but is sent home one hour later, the employer must pay the employee for an additional three hours of reporting time pay. In the same example, but on a six hour shift, the employer would need to pay the employee an additional two hours for reporting time pay.
There are a few exceptions to the employer’s obligation to pay reporting time pay. They are: (1) when the employer’s business cannot begin or continue because of threats to employees or property, or when civil authorities recommend that work does not begin or continue, (2) when public utilities fail to supply electricity, water, or gas, etc., and (3) interruptions at work caused by Acts of God or other incidents that are not withing the employer’s control (i.e., earthquake or fire). Reporting time pay is a form of wages, and a failure to pay employees properly is wage theft and can expose the employer to waiting time penalties.
