Several Qwest Communications call center employees sued the company, claiming that they were required to work a few minutes outside of their shift each day in order to be prepared to start their shift. These tasks included firing up computers and related activities. Qwest tried to use its policy against off the clock work as its defense, but it was indicated that the employer encouraged employees to arrive early so they could start computers and software, or set work objectives so high that employees had no reasonable ability to meet them within the shift period. Of course, it should be remembered that without regard to whether you have a strict policy against overtime, if overtime occurs, you need to pay. Your remedies are to discipline employees who work when they are not supposed to, but you still pay them. However, what you really need to do is make accommodations such as starting the actual shift a few minutes after you start paying them and requiring them to clock in when they arrive to go to their workstation. Another appropriate policy to avoid claims is no lunch breaks may be taken at workstations. Burch, et al. v. Qwest Communication International (D.C. Minn. 2009)