Should police officers get paid for caring for police dogs at home? That’s the issue in a police officer dog lawsuit filed this week against the Cook County Sheriff’s Department.
Generally, employees get paid for the time they’re at work or performing functions related to work. Whether someone is working is pretty much cut-and-dry for most jobs. However, when employees bring work (or a work dog) home, the questions of when work ends and begins becomes much more difficult to define.
In the lawsuit, Cook County sheriffs say that their work didn't end when the day let out. Instead, as the sheriffs took their canines home, they also had to perform duties to maintain the dogs as any other dog owner would like walking the dog, feeding the dog, and cleaning up after the dog, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.
While the sheriffs were given an extra hour of pay for caring for the dogs, the sheriffs say this was not enough as the dogs could be very high maintenance, reports the Sun-Times. The sheriffs are seeking about $530,000 in back pay for the time it took them to care for the dogs off-hours during the past four years.
The issue of what is work has been a constant battle point for workers and employers. Police officers have to wear and maintain uniforms, should they be paid for the time it takes them to get dressed? Motorcycle officers drive to and from work on their motorcycles, should they be paid for their commute?
What is work is an extremely complicated question that relies on a bevy of court decisions that cut through activities like a really fine knife. Whether caring for dogs at home is considered work has no definite answer, so don't be surprised if this police officer dog lawsuit settles.
Related Resources:
- Find a Chicago Employment Attorney (FindLaw)
- State Lawsuit Seeks Overtime Back Pay for Cook County Canine Officers (MyFox Chicago)
- Wage and Hour Laws (FindLaw)
