Court to hear dispute over pay for security checks

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some warehouse workers who fill orders for Amazon.com customers say they spend up to 25 minutes after every shift waiting to pass through security checks to make sure they aren't stealing from the online retailer. But they don't get paid for the extra time.

The Supreme Court hears arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by former staffers at a Nevada warehouse who claim they should be compensated for time spent in security screenings under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

A ruling in favor of the plaintiffs could subject employers to billions of dollars in retroactive pay and increase costs for companies that have expanded security measures to curb employee theft. But it could also mean a boost in wages for millions of employees who spend extra time going through security.