October Term 2014 · Docket 13-433
Must employers pay warehouse workers for security screenings?
Warehouse workers seek pay for mandatory security checks. Employers argue these checks are non-compensable.
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
Clement argued security checks are non-compensable.
Thierman argued security checks are principal activities.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 3-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 23-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the definition of compensable work. The dispute centers on security screenings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 3-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 23-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 8, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 43-45
What each side wants
Employers want to exclude security checks from pay.
Workers want to receive pay for security checks.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 3-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 23-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-49
What each side says
Employers argue security checks are non-compensable postliminary activities.
Workers argue security checks are principal activities.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 3-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 23-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-49
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked about theft-prevention processes.
Justice Kennedy asked about hypothetical checkout times.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-31
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of paid work. It affects millions of hourly workers nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 3-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 23-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-49
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 27-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-31
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 18, lines 3-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 3-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 23-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 3-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 23-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-49
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.