I work for a smaller company that’s a subsidiary of a MAJOR company. It’s been posted that we are not to punch in more than fifteen minutes before the start of our shift, and we are expected to wear a company supplied uniform for work, and be at our work stations at least five minutes prior to the start of our shift.

As for our time cards, no matter what time we punch in, they manually adjust it to the top of the hour. I typically punch in ten to fifteen minutes early to change and be at my post. But my check always reads forty hours, no matter what.

It’s my understanding that this is wage theft, and against federal labor laws (in PA). The crux is, I like my job. I get good pay, good raises every year, and good benefits. I’m concerned that reporting this could lead to a multimillion dollar law suit and inevitably losing my job, to either cut backs or the plant closing.

I’m not sure bringing this to the attention of management would change this fact as there are employees who have been here for decades. The back pay for them would be huge. Not even considering the back pay to all the former employees as well.

Do I address this with management and give them the chance to make corrections, or to the DoL and an attorney?