Connecticut Supreme Court Rules Amazon Must Compensate Workers for Daily Security Checks

A major ruling from the Connecticut Supreme Court could change how employers across the state handle employee pay, especially when it comes to those “small” moments after a shift ends.

In a decision involving Amazon warehouse employees, the court ruled that workers must be compensated for time spent going through mandatory security screenings before leaving the workplace. Even if the process only takes a few seconds or minutes, the time still counts as paid work under Connecticut law.

The Case Against Amazon

The lawsuit was filed by current and former Amazon fulfillment center employees who claimed the company failed to pay them for time spent waiting in line and passing through required exit security checks at the end of their shifts.

Amazon argued that federal law does not require pay for this kind of activity. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the U.S. Supreme Court previously ruled in Integrity Staffing Solutions v. Busk that exit security screenings are “postliminary” activities and not compensable.

However, Connecticut’s top court said state wage laws provide stronger protections than federal standards.

Connecticut Law Is Broader Than Federal Law

The Connecticut Supreme Court focused on the state’s definition of “hours worked.” Under Connecticut law, employers must pay employees for all time they are required to be on the employer’s premises, even if they are not actively performing job duties.

Because Amazon required employees to remain inside the facility until they completed security screenings, that time must be counted as paid work.

The court explained that the law’s wording is clear: if the employer requires you to stay, you must be paid.

No “De Minimis” Exception in Connecticut

Amazon also argued that the time involved was too small to matter — sometimes only seconds — and should fall under the federal “de minimis” rule, which allows employers to ignore trivial amounts of time.

The Connecticut Supreme Court rejected that argument. The court clarified that Connecticut wage laws do not include a de minimis exception, meaning employers cannot refuse pay simply because the time is short.

Why This Matters

This ruling is significant not only for Amazon workers, but for employers statewide. Many workplaces require employees to complete security checks, bag inspections, or other exit procedures. Connecticut employers may now need to ensure workers are paid for that extra time.

The court also dismissed Amazon’s claim that tracking such time would be impractical, noting companies could easily move time clocks outside security areas to account for it.

The Bottom Line

The Connecticut Supreme Court has made it clear:

If an employer requires employees to stay on-site for mandatory procedures — even for a few seconds — that time counts as paid work.

For Connecticut workers, the decision strengthens wage protections and reinforces the principle that time controlled by the employer belongs on the paycheck.

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