Paying in 15 minute increments?

[MOEW]

What is the name of your state? NY

My question is regarding paying hourly employees. Is it legal to only pay in 1/2 hour increments or are we supposed to be paid by the quarter hour? When I punch in at 8:10, I get paid from 8:30, rahter than 8:15. Can you let me know? I searched all over the place on the web & haven't found anything specifically addressing this issue. Thanks in advance.

 

[Beth3]

Federal DOL guidelines allow an employer to institute reasonable "rounding-off" pay practices. This alleviates the employer from having to calculate pay literally to the minute. An employer may set reasonable rounding off increments (five, ten, fifteen minutes, etc.) but they cannot unduly favor the employer. For example, if an employer "rounds forward" and pays in 10 minute increments, an employee punching in at 8:05am would be paid starting at 8:10am. However if the employee works until 5:01pm and then punches out, the employee would have to be paid until 5:10pm.

I've never heard of an employer using 30 minute rounding-off increments which doesn't mean it's prohibited but I suspect it certainly is stretching the definition of "reasonable." However the key question is if you work a few minutes past your shift-end, are you paid for the full coming 30 minutes??? If not, then your employer is definitely violating wage and hour laws.

To discuss this further, I suggest you contact NY's Department of Labor.