Denver police sue city

[Shea]

I agree with the kinda. We dont have 2 mill right now to settle this. You should take what you have and be happy you even have a job and one you like at that. BUT... for those of on salary, we get paid for 8 hours if we work it, we get paid for 8 hours even if we work 10. The police are not salary employees for the city, they get paid overtime if they work it. If they have to show up at work 30 mins early to put on all the required gear to do their job, why isn't that 30 mins part of their work day?

Well then why isn't my commute part of my work day? I'm not at home enjoying life so why don't I get paid for it? Fact is getting ready for work has never been considered part of any job...except now meat packers.

I find it interesting that they make the distinction that they can't get ready at home. So putting on a uniform at home is not considered "part of the work day" but making them go to the station and put it on there is?...really?

And it's an additional 200 million not 2, according to the article.

[Mother Goose]

Not if they are getting dressed

[Skinbabe]

Not if they are getting dressed

Good point!!

[MetaLord 9]

Sorry officer, I was speeding because I had to take time to put my clothes on this morning while I was off the clock and it's making me late to work, so since I paid for you to put your clothes on this morning, I'm just gonna get back to my commute (which I'm also not getting paid for) without that ticket in your hand.

[Skinbabe]

And it's an additional 200 million not 2, according to the article.

Right, pardon my typo... and agreed. 2 mill or 200 mill to pay them to get dressed, in this economy we are in is out of hand for sure.

[Shea]

Right, pardon my typo... and agreed. 2 mill or 200 mill to pay them to get dressed, in this economy we are in is out of hand for sure.

Even if we were rolling in dough I would disagree with it.

[Devaclis]

I ride to work every day. EVERY DAY. It takes me about 15 minutes to get ready and geared up to ride to work. I could choose to work from home, where I do not need to take this time to get ready. These people are ALSO making a choice about what they do for a living. They can choose another line of work that does not come with the "hassle of getting geared up". They need to lay off the band wagon lawsuit shit and focus more on doing their duty as a civil servant. Are they bitching about their free cars and free gas and free ammo and free personal safety devices? I think not.

[TFOGGuys]

Then I hope one day you need one and they dont come.

My experience has been that when seconds count, the police are only minutes away. Unfortunately, the vast majority of our cops have been forced into a role of tax collector or social babysitter, rather than doing anything to actively prevent crime, mostly because every time they roust some known, obvious thug, said thug screams "profiling". My take: If you don't want to be known as or profiled as a criminal, don't be or act like a criminal. If you dress in clothes that look like you're trying to conceal a weapon, and act suspiciously, chances are you're gonna get hassled.

Back to the subject at hand, it's true that the police have somewhat different requirements when dressing for work than most of us, but that pretty much comes with the territory.

[MetaLord 9]

I'm complaining about my "free" ticket, does that count? (I got it for free! fail. )

[modette99]

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[Skinbabe]

I see both sides...
Maybe they should say you get 10 minutes to get dressed and undressed, or how about get dressed at home and come in (what is the big deal with that). Maybe take roll call and start the brief in the locker room.

The cops could make it worst for them selfs. Department might say fine, but now you need to dress at home and come in, and we will not unlock the door till 5 minutes before starting time, or you are not allowed to enter till then. Maybe they will say fine we will take away your use of a vehicle...no more storing them at home. All I can say is the cops better tread lightly on their demands.

I agree.

[MetaLord 9]

Agreed. I'm still missing why these officers aren't being told that "you've got 8 hours in the work day. Get dressed using 30 minutes of that day and get to work or come to work dressed. You don't get to have your cake and eat it too."

[Nick_Ninja]

Not if they are getting dressed

and doing their nails .................

[Devaclis]

Frivolous = $200million

[Ricky]

I find this ridiculous. If you don't like how it goes, find another job. I know flight attendants that spend more time getting ready for a flight, yet they get paid 1/3 what some cops do. IMO, it's part of the job. How ridiculous they are asking for more money at this point in time, with the economy the way it is. If this is such an "honor", then the joy of putting on the uniform every time they go to work, should be payment enough.

[BigE]

This whole "get paid for getting dressed" issue was brought up where I last worked. It is a pharmaceutical plant and we had uniforms that we had to wear there then shower and change after work to prevent bringing contaminants home with you. There were a few folks who always said that they should be paid for donning/doffing their uniforms (the company paid 10 minutes after you clocked out for shower time) and they were always told the same thing...if you don't like it...there's the door, good luck on your job hunt.

[Snowman]

Working is not a right. It’s an agreement between an employee and an employer to a set of expectations in exchange for payment. What is expected and how this is compensated can be anything, fair or not.

There are extremes both ways. From executives getting golden parachutes even if they run the company into the ground to contractors not paying for overtime to hourly workers because they are not in the US.

Now workers have every right to renegotiate this agreement. So if the cops what to be paid for getting dressed and going to their morning roll call meeting they should renegotiate their contract. Running to the courts to solve these disputes just cost everyone unnecessary time and money.

[MetaLord 9]

The phrase "at will employer " applies here I feel

[Pharmgirl]

I think that we should all come to work naked. Maybe then someone will be willing to pay me to get dressed. Or at least send me home.

[Keepitgreen]

Getting paid to do laundry?
Why not get a contract with Cintas or something like that.. That might be cheaper..

Shoot...
I done heard it all now..

[dm_gsxr]

Of course when someone sues and wins, there's precedent and others can now sue.

As an exempt employee for many years, I get paid for 8 hours a day period. Doesn't matter that I spend time at home reading or learning something new. It's expected as part of my career (not the current job but the entire learning process).

I was saying I can see their point. If they're paid hourly and are required to be at work 30 minutes prior to the job, they should get paid for those 30 minutes.

When I was an MP, the shift started at 8, 4, and midnight. We had to go to the armory to check out our weapon and ammo. Then the motor pool to check out a vehicle (which included a checklist to check tires, lights, and the condition of the vehicle), get gas if appropriate, and be at roll call 30 minutes prior to shift start for inspection and briefing. End of shift was the reverse. At 4 the next shift took over and we had to take the vehicles back, get gas and get the vehicle checked in. Then return the weapon. After removing the ammo and making sure the gun was unloaded, you fired into the sand filled barrel to make sure it was unloaded. Heaven help you if a round was still chambered

Granted that's The Army and there may be a lot more work involved than with a Denver cop. Still, I have some sympathy for them

Carl

[modette99]

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[dm_gsxr]

^ However you signed up for the Army and they own your ass till you get out. In fact you are always at work as you are always on call...hmmm maybe people in the Army should sue as they are not paid for their time as they are at work in a sense 24/7.

Understand. I wasn't complaining about being an MP or in The Army. I enjoyed it actually. And I don't complain about my current career choice. If I have a problem at a job, I change jobs. I had a problem with the way IBM works so I changed jobs. If all IT jobs were run like IBM, I'd have a real problem. I'd either have to suck it up, change careers or try to change it so it's not a problem any more.

But I was just using my own experience to understand where they're coming from. If you don't have the experience, either by participating or hearing/reading about it, it may be hard to sympathise.

I agree that it should be renegotiated at the next Union talks vs suing the government for money it doesn't have. Heck, it might be a punitive action because of the reduction in personnel due to budget shortfalls. It will certainly hurt them. If they win, the government will have to cut more services and more personnel, including Denver cops.

But being silly or by causing themselves problems further down the road doesn't mean I don't understand where they're coming from. I think they're crazy for doing it right now though

Carl

[modette99]

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