IBP v. Alvarez

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In Brief

Requiring employees to put on protective gear and walk to and from changing areas, where such gear is indispensable to the job’s principal activities, is compensatory under the FLSA.

What Happened in Court

Employees of a meat processing plant brought a class action against their employer under the FLSA alleging that their employer, IBP, was required to compensate them for the time it took to change into required specialized protective clothing and safety gear. The Supreme Court determined that requiring employees to put on protective gear and walk to and from changing areas, where such gear is indispensable to the job’s principal activities, is compensatory under the FLSA.