Knifepersons performed butchering operations at King Packing Company. Various knives and three types of electric saws were used in the butchering operation. Some of the knives were furnished by the employees. The saws and the more expensive knives were furnished by the employer. All of the knives as well as the saws had to be razorsharp for the proper performance of work. A dull knife slowed down production, which was conducted on an assembly-line basis; affected the appearance of the meat as well as the quality of the hides; and caused waste and accidents. The knifepersons were required to sharpen their own knives outside the scheduled shift of eight hours, and they were not paid for the time so spent.
The Secretary of Labor contended that the time spent sharpening knives was compensable working time under the FLSA. King Packing Company contended that such time spent was noncompensable preliminary activity under the Portal-to-Portal Act.
Decide. [Mitchell v. King Packing Co., 350 U.S. 260]