Must companies compensate hourly employees who are required to carry beepers on off duty time?
Whether or not employees are paid, turns on the factor of employer control. If the employee is free to conduct his/her personal activities as normal, and is only required to call the employer when beeped, then the employer must pay for the time the employee responds to the beeper only. The mere carrying of a beeper does not constitute hours worked unless the employee is required to report to work when beeped and the time given to report unduly restricts his/her normal activities.
