Factory and Warehouse Workers May Be Missing Out on Pay for Walking and Waiting Time

By Bruno OrtegaWage Theft

In many industrial, warehouse, and manufacturing jobs, work begins well before the machines start running. But in too many cases, employees aren’t being paid for that early time. Whether it’s walking long distances across sprawling facilities or waiting in line for required safety gear, you are actively missing out on pay.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and various state labor laws, employers must pay workers for any time spent performing required, job-related activities, even if it happens before or after your scheduled shift. This includes:

  • Walking from plant entrances or parking lots to your work area

  • Waiting for and putting on personal protective equipment (PPE)

  • Participating in mandatory pre-shift or post-shift briefings

  • Walking back after clocking out if the employer requires that route

  • Waiting in line for security or safety checks required by the company

If these activities are required by your employer, take place on the job site, and are part of your daily work routine, then they likely qualify as compensable work time.

Why It Matters

This isn’t just about a few lost minutes—this is time you’re working without pay. Over weeks or months, this can amount to hundreds of unpaid hours, especially in environments with frequent overtime. That could mean your employer owes you thousands of dollars in unpaid wages and overtime.

We’re Investigating Employees Missing Out on Pay

Our firm is currently investigating whether large-scale employers in manufacturing, warehousing, and industrial sectors are violating labor laws by failing to compensate workers for walking time, gear-up time, and required briefings.

Contact Us

If your job requires unpaid pre-shift or post-shift activities—and you weren’t paid for that time—you may be entitled to back wages and other compensation. Contact us for a free and confidential consultation to understand your rights.

We have experience representing workers in wage and hour class actions across industries and have helped clients recover millions in unpaid wages. Email us at [email protected] or call (202) 470-3520 to get started.