A Couple Of Fine Old English Words Spell Trouble For Tyson

Doffing and donning your work gear  (that’s “do-off”  and “do-on,” per the etymologists) gets more complicated and time-consuming when the work gets more dangerous, and questions arise about whether or how much of that time should be on the clock. In a current case, a federal court judge in Nebraska has denied a motion by Tyson Foods to decertify a class of production workers who contend they were underpaid for their doffing and donning time at a meat processing plant. Despite the fact they worked different hours and were at various pay grades, the court did not accept Tyson’s contention that the Supreme Court’s recent precedent in Wal-Mart v Dukes should apply and the workers should be required to file individually.