Tell me if I'm missing something, but how is it not a basic duty of the employer to pay for the time and cost of their employees' commute to work? This isn't personal time, this is time and money exclusively lost for the sake of the company. Why aren't hourly rates counted for this time? And gas expenses as well.

If they had to, maybe companies would invest more in various forms of efficient public transport, which would reduce overall spending and gas emissions in this critical time. Maybe there would be more push to lower housing prices for people to afford to live near their workplace.

The responsibility for commute should be on employers, not employees. It's daylight robbery and I'm surprised employers are just universally getting away with it.

Follow-up to this post - https://www.reddit.com/r/WorkReform/comments/10i58ne/dg_new_rule_workers_must_stay_on_the_premises/

I reported Dollar General to the Dept of Labor. DG's policy is that employees have to clock out for unpaid breaks, but they're not allowed to leave the premises in case they're needed to do work. The DOL agent confirmed this is not an uninterrupted break; she's on call, and that means she has to be paid for it. If it's an unpaid break, DG cannot legally require them to stay on the premises.

The Dept of Labor is launching an investigation, and it sounds like my daughter will be getting backpay for all the breaks she had to clock out for.

The DOL agent said she'll be hearing from them again mid-February.

Despite how friendly, affable, and genuine they may seem, remember they are not your friends.

HR’s job is to protect the company from litigation, they will always have the interests of the company in mind, they are never on your side. As is with management, they may seem like they’re your friend, someone who you can talk to, but at the end of the day, they will always do what is best for the company not you.

I’ve seen many situations where an employee gets close with management and then are shocked when management does not act in their best interests.

This does not mean you need to be rude with HR/Management, you can still chat and talk about your day, but always remember they are not your friends.