Kronos work time recording clock question - labor law?

[crazy huhn]

Anybody familiar with those or where to find labor law answers?
Maybe I am just pitty and should just be happy that I have a job during these tough economic times. I work for a big company (1800 employees off-season, up to 5000 peak season).

I was told about 4 years ago, that if a company decides to use the Kronos time recording machines for swiping in and out of your shifts, you can do it at any machine if more than one are installed. I never take or took advantage out of it nor did my co-workers, we always swiped at the entrance next to security, but with having a new supervisor we were told to swipe next to our offices which is about 10 minutes away from the entrance or exits. Our supervisor says that she can make us swipe at any machine she wants to and the Human Resource Department supports that. While most other departments swipe at the main entrance/exit, my co-workers and I loose at least 20 minutes every day (valuable time I could spend with my chickens). Well, our supervisor's assistant lead just says suck it up or you get less hours.
What do you all think?

 

[saddina]

If you've an union you may have a plan already in place, if not, is it worth being written up for insubordination? I'd use the appointed time clock, but sweetly refuse to talk about work when clocked out (as in if boss's henchman wants to discuss dept budget as you walk in "one moment, let me swipe in, and we can go over it".

 

[WriterofWords]

In my last job before returning to teaching we had a clock like that and had to swipe in as we reached our department. In between the front door and my dept. was lots of people who wanted me and my attention and had questions and needed answers and I refused to discuss work until I had clocked in. My Spv. asked me why I was being rude to people who were trying to ask questions and I told him I only discuss work while on the clock, if you want me to help people before I get to my office then I will clock in at the front door, otherwise I'm not on the clock and I'm not going to work. Suddenly we were all clocking in at the front.

 

[saddina]

Quote:
Exactly.

 

[FrenchHen]

My state requires that the labor laws be posted in the break room. The agency's contact info is on that poster.
If your state is the same, that would be a place to inquire. It sounds shady, but perhaps not illegal.

As a teacher, I have contract time, and reality time. Contract are my paid hours. Reality is quite different.

 

[crazy huhn]

Quote:
Haha, I like that...
my supervisor even expects us to be at our work station 5 minutes earlier or to stay 5 minutes longer than the scheduled shift to fill in the next shift or to get filled in by the previous shift.....

 

[blossom hen]

Quote:
Shift change at two of the major companies in this area use 15 minute overlap to pass on info between shifts (I worked many years at one; my son worked for the other) I didn't get paid extra for the overlap time; my son did. Different policies; different companies; different job levels.

 

[redhen]

Unless you have a union you are out of luck. They can mostly do what they please, and you have to either accept it or find a new job.. Sad, but true.

 

[unionwirewoman]

I am Union , so this probably won't help but I'll give my 2 cents anyway . I've worked non-Union most of my life...had to work long hours...through my lunch period then be told to take a day off so I wouldn't get overtime . My time is worth money . We start at a set time .... start time begins at the job trailer or gang box . I hardly ever give more than 5 minutes lee-way everyday without being paid for it . You might have to clock in after a 10 minute walk...no biggie as long as you are not conducting business while off the clock . I know it takes time out of your day , but everyone does it to a certain degree....just think of it as your gear up time . If they do expect you to conduct business while walking to your time clock...then you might want to take a poll on how many of your co-workers feel the same . Not pushing Union onto you , but anyone in any field can become Union as long as the majority vote is there and you've talked to a local Union hall about it .

I'm stepping down from my soap box now....please continue .

 

[English Chick]

Are the swipe machines numbered? can they actually know which machine you use? ............. think your supervisor is being rather dictatorial in demanding which machine you can and can't use.

She should be maintaining good relations with the staff not alienating them.......at the end of he day does it really matter which machine you use ...could you not bring it up at a staff meeting, or everyone bombard the boss with memo's on the subject.............good luck..