Tyson Foods Inc. is staring at a lawsuit brought on by its workers, who are claiming the company failed to compensate them for time spent preparing essentials for their work.

According to the lawsuit, which seeks back wages from March 2006 to the present, as many as 3,500 current and former Tyson production and support employees could be included in a class action lawsuit against the company, if the lawsuit is classified as such.

In November 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court said that workers must be paid for time spent fulfilling “donning and doffing” duties at work. Bosses did not have to pay, however, for time workers spent waiting for protective gear before the work shift starts.

Source: Jerry Perkins, Des Moines Register, “Lawsuit: Tyson Foods cut corners on pay,” March 22, 2008. (http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/BUSINESS01/803220321)