Workers Sue Target Over Unpaid Walking Time in Large Warehouses

A lawsuit has been filed against Target, alleging that the company does not pay its warehouse employees for the extensive time they spend walking from the entrance to their workstations. According to the suit, workers at two large warehouses in New York state, specifically located in Wilton and Amsterdam, face a 30-minute walk totaling about half a mile, and this unpaid time could cost them up to $2,000 each year.

The plaintiffs, former employee Jeanna Kratzert and current employee Neil Mosher, argue that despite being required to clock in and out at their assigned departments, Target does not compensate them for the time taken to traverse the substantial distances within the 1.5 million and 1.8 million square foot facilities that together employ around 2,000 staff members. The lawsuit further claims that this practice is in violation of New York labor laws, and it seeks to represent all affected hourly-paid workers.

The complaint emphasizes that while Target tracks employee entry and exit times for security purposes, it fails to calculate the walking time from the entrance to the time clocks, which the suit states has resulted in a significant financial disadvantage for employees earning between $39,000 and $57,000 annually. It also raises concerns about possible violations regarding overtime pay, noting that the time spent walking beyond a 40-hour workweek should be compensated at the premium pay rate.

The total unpaid walking time across the workforce, according to the lawsuit, is estimated to exceed $2 million per year, effectively transferring wealth from the workers to a corporation valued at over $43 billion. Additionally, bag checks prior to entering the facility are mentioned, hinting that future updates to the lawsuit could address any unpaid time associated with that process. The Independent has reached out to Target for a response to the allegations made in the lawsuit.