Dive Brief:

• Current and previous Papa John’s employees may not have been compensated for time they spent doing online training, according to a statement from Dallas-based law firm Baron & Budd, which also said it would conduct an investigation.
• The claims concern online training programs that taught workers how to deliver pizzas, greet customers and make some of the pizzas. The training programs included quizzes and modules created by the corporation.
• If the allegations are true, Baron & Budd says, Papa John's could be held liable under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Dive Insight:

Not every type of training is compensable working time under the FLSA, but the U.S. Department of Labor is clear that unpaid training is the exception rather than the norm. It generally must at least be during off hours, voluntary and not related to the employee's work. Employees also generally can't perform any productive work during the training.

While employers are looking for ways to minimize or even recoup the investment they make in training, the law generally favors employees in this area. To offset some of the costs associated with training and upskilling employees, the federal government is considering legislation that would include tax credits for employee training.