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Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

2023

De Minimis Doctrine

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Full-Text Articles in Law

It’S About Time: Rejection Of The De Minimis Doctrine In State Wage And Hour Laws, Abigail Britton Apr 2023

It’S About Time: Rejection Of The De Minimis Doctrine In State Wage And Hour Laws, Abigail Britton

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Since the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) in 1938, courts have grappled with how to interpret which activities an employee performs for their employer should be considered “work.” The FLSA requires employers pay a minimum wage, pay overtime, and keep records of their employees’ time. However, to calculate these wages based on hours worked, the employer must know what constitutes “work.” Over the 80 years since its enactment, federal courts have adopted rules to determine what counts as work. One doctrine courts apply is the de minimis doctrine. Under the de minimis doctrine, employers do not need …


Following In California’S Footsteps?: Pennsylvania Eliminates The De Minimis Exception In State Wage And Hour Claims, Lauren E. Stahl Apr 2023

Following In California’S Footsteps?: Pennsylvania Eliminates The De Minimis Exception In State Wage And Hour Claims, Lauren E. Stahl

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), employers risk receiving wage and hour violations if they fail to compensate employees for all “hours worked” or fail to adhere to minimum wage and overtime requirements. The de minimis doctrine provides an exception to this general rule and excuses employers from compensating employees for insignificant amounts of time spent on otherwise compensable off-the-clock work activities. Examples of de minimis off-the-clock work activities include waiting for a computer to load or waiting to log onto a computer network. These activities are considered de minimis because they take only a minute or less, and …