amazonsignageThe U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case involving former Amazon warehouse workers fighting over unpaid security searches which could have implications for similar cases in the future.

Two former temporary employees from Amazon contractor Integrity Staffing Solutions said they passed through 30-minute security checks at the end of their shifts, but were not compensated. The workers, based at one of Amazon’s Las Vegas-area warehouses, filed a lawsuit in 2010 claiming that the unpaid checks violated Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

In April, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled that the workers’ suit could go forward, which led to a bevy of similar cases against Amazon directly and other third-party warehouse contractors.

Integrity argues that security checks are no different than tasks like punching time clocks or walking to the parking lot — which the FLSA has found non-compensable. What the Supreme Court ultimately decides for this case could determine how companies must pay workers for duties not related directly to regular work assignments.

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