Braxton v. Minnesota, State of

**What Happened** Thirty police officers and sergeants who worked for Pemberton Township sued their employer for wage theft and retaliation. The officers claimed the township failed to pay them for work they performed before and after their regular shifts between October 2011 and November 2013. This unpaid work likely included activities like equipment checks, report writing, and other job duties that happened outside their scheduled hours. **What the Court Decided** The court ruled in favor of the officers, finding that Pemberton Township violated federal wage laws. The judge determined that the township illegally failed to compensate the officers for their pre- and post-shift work and awarded them damages for unpaid overtime wages they should have received. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling reinforces that employers must pay workers for all time spent on job-related tasks, even if those activities happen before or after scheduled shifts. Workers cannot be required to perform unpaid work duties, and employers who fail to compensate for this time can face legal consequences. The decision also shows that groups of workers can successfully challenge wage theft when they band together to hold employers accountable.