Nelson v. Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind

**What Happened** Workers at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind worked as "houseparents," living on campus and caring for students around the clock. The institute didn't pay these employees for the time they spent sleeping overnight while on duty. The houseparents sued, claiming they should be paid for all hours they were required to stay at the facility, including sleep time. **What the Court Decided** The court ruled in favor of the workers. It found that houseparents must be paid for their sleep time under the Fair Labor Standards Act because they were required to stay on the premises and respond to student needs throughout the night. The court also rejected the institute's defense that it acted in "good faith" based on its understanding of wage laws, since the employer's pay policy didn't follow official Department of Labor guidelines. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that employees who must sleep at their workplace while remaining "on call" are generally entitled to pay for that time. Workers in similar positions—like overnight caregivers, security guards, or residential facility staff—may have strong claims for unpaid wages if their employers aren't compensating them for required sleep time.