A federal judge has ruled that Los Angeles police officers should be paid for the time it takes them to put on and take off their uniforms and safety equipment, a ruling that could potentially cost the LAPD millions of dollars in back pay and higher salaries. [More]Many years ago, I used to be a shift supervisor in a medical plastics department under strict FDA cGMP compliance rules--we made IV tubing and the like, and had to do our compounding and extrusion operations in a "clean room" environment. This necessitated suiting up in special cover-alls, head gear and footwear before entering the controlled environment--including reversing the process in a controlled staging area before leaving.
We were expected to be on time and ready to relieve the previous shift when the bell rang--and the clock started.
Of course, we were only mere productive citizens paying for all this government largesse--it's not like we were "Only Ones" or anything.
I wonder if the judge gets paid to put his robes on and take them off...?
[Via Tom Z]