Tuesday, February 25, 2020

California Supreme Court: Time Spent in Security Screenings is Compensable

Overview:
  • The Frlekin decision expands the scope of what is considered compensable time under state law.
  • The decision is based on the employer’s control of the employee’s time, not on whether the employee was “suffered or permitted to work.”
  • The court clarified that, in cases involving onsite employer-controlled activities, courts may and should consider additional relevant factors, including, but not limited to:
    • The location of the activity;
    • The degree of the employer's control;
    • Whether the activity primarily benefits the employee or employer; and
    • Whether the activity is enforced through disciplinary measures.
  


The California Supreme Court issued a decision in Frlekin v. Apple, Inc. (Frlekin) clarifying that, under state law, compensable time or “hours of work” includes the time an employee spends on the employer’s premises waiting for, and undergoing, mandatory exit searches of bags, packages, or personal technology devices (such as iPhones) that are voluntarily brought to work purely for personal convenience.

Many employers have adopted security screenings to curb employee theft, particularly in the retail and mercantile industries. In light of the Frlekin decision, California employers will need to pay close attention to the length and scope of their screening procedures and whether they need to account for the time employees wait to go through the screening process.

Hours Worked

In Frlekin, the plaintiffs sued their employer, Apple Inc. (Apple), for unpaid minimum and overtime wages for the time they spent waiting for and undergoing Apple’s exit searches. Apple required its employees to clock out before submitting to thorough security screenings at the end of their work shift and leaving Apple’s premises. The screenings could be lengthy and required employees to wait for extended periods of time.

Under California’s Wage Order 7 (the controlling law in this case), “hours worked” is defined as “the time during which an employee is subject to the control of an employer, and includes all the time the employee is suffered or permitted to work, whether or not required to do so.” (Emphasis added.)

The court in this case concluded that an employer is controlling an employee’s time when it requires the employee to submit to an exit search before exiting the employer’s premises. As a result, the court determined that the time employees spend undergoing exit searches is compensable as “hours worked” under California labor law.

The court also rejected the employer’s argument that compensable time must be tied to an activity that is “required” or “unavoidable,” because this type of language:
  • Does not exist in Wage Order 7; and
  • Is inconsistent with the history and purpose of Wage Order 7.
Issues for Employers

Even though security screening cases are uncommon under federal law, this court decision seems to contradict the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Integrity Staffing Solutions, Inc. v. Busk, holding that time spent awaiting bag checks was not compensable time under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employers will want to understand the difference between these two cases and determine whether state or federal law applies, based on their specific circumstances.

Finally, the California Supreme Court also indicated that the Frlekin decision applies retroactively, meaning that employers that adjust their security screening and other off-the-clock practices may also need to go back a few years to determine whether they are liable for unpaid wages to their employees.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Emergency Room or Urgent Care?

More than 12% of all emergency room visits are better addressed in either an urgent care facility or a doctor’s office.  Urgent care is commonly one-tenth the cost of an emergency room visit with urgent care costing an average of $100 per visit and emergency room visits costing an average of approximately $1,300. 

If you’re suddenly faced with symptoms of an illness or injury, how can you determine which facility is most appropriate for your condition?

The Emergency Room

Emergency rooms are equipped to handle life-threatening injuries and illnesses and other serious medical conditions. An emergency is a condition that may cause loss of life or permanent or severe disability if not treated immediately. You should go directly to the nearest emergency room if you experience any of the following:
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Severe abdominal pain following an injury
  • Uncontrollable bleeding
  • Confusion or loss of consciousness, especially after a head injury
  • Poisoning or suspected poisoning
  • Serious burns, cuts or infections
  • Inability to swallow
  • Seizures
  • Paralysis
  • Broken bones
Patients at the emergency room are sorted, or triaged, according to the seriousness of their condition. For example, a patient with severe injuries from a car accident would likely be seen before a child with an ear infection, even if the child was brought in first. 

Those who go to the emergency room with relatively minor injuries or illnesses often have to wait more than an hour to be seen, depending on the severity of the other patients’ conditions. Often they could have been seen more quickly at an urgent care facility.

Urgent Care

Urgent care centers are usually located in clinics or hospitals, and, like emergency rooms, offer after-hours care. Unlike emergency rooms, they are not equipped to handle life-threatening situations. Rather, they handle conditions that require immediate attention—those where delaying treatment could cause serious problems or discomfort.

Some examples of conditions that require urgent care are these:
  • Ear infections
  • Controlled bleeding or cuts that require stitches  
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Vomiting
  • High fever
  • Flu 
  • Minor broken bones like toes or fingers 
  • Sprains or strains  
  • Urinary tract infections  
  • Skin rashes 
Urgent care centers are usually more cost-effective than emergency rooms for these conditions. In addition, the waiting time in urgent care centers is usually much shorter. Choosing the appropriate place of care can not only ensure prompt medical attention but will also help reduce any unnecessary expenses.