What is reporting time pay in California?
When an employee reports for a scheduled shift and is sent home after working less than half of it, the employer owes half the scheduled hours — a minimum of two hours and a maximum of four — at the regular rate. It applies even when the employee did no work at all.
The rule exists because showing up has a cost: travel, childcare, and a day that cannot be spent elsewhere. Slow business is not an exception.
In Ward v. Tilly's (2019) the Court of Appeal held that call-in shifts can trigger reporting time pay — an employee required to phone in and be available has, in substance, reported for work.
Narrow exceptions exist, such as an interruption caused by utility failure or a threat to property, but they are read strictly.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-08-07. Informational only — not legal advice. California rules change; confirm against the current source before acting.
Related questions
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