October Term 2005 · Docket 03-1238
Does the Portal Act require employers to pay for walking and waiting time tied to mandatory gear changes?
Employers argue that walking and waiting time is unpaid because it occurs outside the main work tasks. Workers argue that this time is essential to their jobs and must be paid.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Phillips argued that the Portal Act excludes walking time occurring outside the workday.
Mr. Goldstein argued that the outcome follows directly from prior precedent defining principal activities broadly.
justice_souter_questioned_whether_integral_activities_are_principal_activities
justice_oconnor_cited_prior_opinions_agreeing_that_principal_activities_include_integral_tasks
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 1-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 1-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-25
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests how courts define the start and end of a workday. The dispute centers on whether time spent walking to gear stations and waiting for equipment counts as compensable work.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-35
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 3, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-23
What each side wants
The employer wants the Court to rule that walking and waiting time are not principal activities and thus unpaid.
The workers want the Court to rule that walking and waiting time are integral to the job and must be paid.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-35
What each side says
The employer argues that the Portal Act excludes time spent before or after principal activities, which they define as the core production tasks.
The workers argue that previous precedent defines principal activities to include all integral and indispensable tasks, such as changing into required gear.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-35
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked if integral activities are distinct from principal activities.
Justice O'Connor noted that prior opinions agreed that principal activities include integral and indispensable tasks.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 1-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 1-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-25
Why it matters
The outcome determines whether millions of workers receive pay for time spent preparing for and ending their shifts. It sets the national standard for calculating daily wages in industries requiring protective equipment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-35
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 1-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 1-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-25
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-35
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.