Customer service representatives and phone representatives at call centers are learning they may be entitled to compensation if they were required to perform pre-shift or post-shift work without pay.

In call centers, employees are often required to be ready to handle new calls right when their scheduled shift time starts. The problem? These employees had pre-shift tasks that had to be completed in order to be ready to handle a call at the start of their scheduled shift time.

Pre-shift work often includes:

• Logging into their computer network
• Logging into multiple pieces of software 
• Reading and responding to work emails

Post-shift work often includes:

• Having to be ready and available for a call until the end of their shift time
• Logging off computer programs used to handle the calls
• Finishing paperwork or securing their workstation
• Logging off the computer network

Companies are required to pay their employees for this type of work performed. However, employers often do not. 

If each workday, an hourly employee works 5, 10, or 15 minutes or more before or after the official start or end time(s) of their scheduled shift without pay, that can add up to significant unpaid wages and/or overtime on a weekly, monthly and annual basis.

For example, for a full-time hourly-paid worker who works five days per week, 12 minutes of unpaid work per day equals 60 minutes (i.e., 1 hour) of unpaid overtime per week – which adds up to approximately 50 hours of unpaid overtime per year.  If an hourly-paid worker’s regular hourly rate of pay is $15.00 per hour, then their overtime pay rate is $22.50.  50 hours of annual unpaid overtime at the overtime rate of $22.50 per hour equals approximately $1,125.00 in unpaid overtime per year.  This can add up to significant amounts year after year.

Free and Confidential: 855-877-5758

Let Us Help You Obtain Unpaid Compensation and Pay! No Cost Help.

Call Attorneys Thomas M. Ryan, James X. Bormes and Catherine P. Sons at 312-726-3400 or 312-201-0575

Tell our law firm about your Call Center experience for free and confidentially now:

Were you ever required to perform pre-shift work such as logging in, checking email, etc. or post-shift work such as finishing a call, closing out of the software programs, etc. without being paid?

Attorneys Thomas M. Ryan, James X. Bormes and Catherine P. Sons represent workers seeking compensation from employers for unpaid wages and overtime.  We have represented call center workers in several dozen class action cases. 

If you or a current/former call center worker(s) were required to perform pre-shift and/or post-shift work without pay, call us at no cost to you. We want to hear your story.