It is a fair question. Employers are rushing to make decisions and implement protocols as businesses open and employees are returning to work. Employers are putting safety measures in place, and to protect employees, many have decided to conduct temperature checks at the start of every shift before allowing employees to enter the workplace and clock in.
But the question arises as to whether this is akin to the time employees in poultry processing plants spend donning and doffing protective gear, or the time retail employees spend in exit security checks at the end of their shift before leaving the retailer’s premises. In their attempt to ensure sick employees are not compromising other employees’ health in the workplace, must employers compensate non-exempt employees who spend a few minutes before they punch in to answer COVID-related questions and have their temperature measured?