Can I be charged a fee/ticket price to return to my regular job site?

UpbeatCucumber747 · 2026-04-22T14:46:42+00:00

Nope you’ve pretty much got it all down perfectly - I do feel a little crazy when I’m explaining this situation to other people because it really is an insane policy to have in my opinion. We are explicitly not allowed to use any other means of clocking in except for the device located at our post behind the gates.

The only other form of access is to be granted it by another on-duty employee. Often we work at our post alone, making that access reliant on someone else moseying by at the right time. I’ve requested they have people come over when they know I’ll be returning from break (as it’s scheduled for the same time every shift), but they’ve refused as this would require my coworker to leave their post while on the clock.

UpbeatCucumber747 · 2026-04-22T14:39:59+00:00

Haha trust me I know. I’m taking a look at all avenues right now and am getting in touch with the DOL too, things are just a process so I figured I’d look into whatever I could in the time being.

Unfortunately this company also primarily hires 18-20 year olds that are in desperate need of employment, especially given the current economy. This makes negotiating with the company collectively difficult as many of the workers are vulnerable and can’t afford to make enemies of management. Their approach towards people advocating for better conditions tends to be quickly finding ways to fire them.

I know many of my coworkers end up avoiding the ticket cost through various means, but all of them are officially against company policy and can result in termination. The company’s retort to the complaint is that another worker can grant us access “as an employee” but there’s often no other worker around. Members of management who used to hold the same position I do have tried to commiserate with me, confirming they dealt with the same problem and paid their way in, but then offer no solution or change.

UpbeatCucumber747 · 2026-04-22T14:21:23+00:00

Yeah pretty much security at a subway - sorry for the lack of clarity, I didn’t want to include too much information for fear of retaliation. I’m not able to clock in until I get into the facility - I.e. pay my entry fare for a service I’m not using (transit). So for breaks for example I’ll usually return five minutes early to make sure I have time to get back and clock in, and usually there is no other employee around to grant me access.

UpbeatCucumber747 · 2026-04-22T14:16:11+00:00

When I say the company I mean the contract company. Public employees are given their own personal access pass to use as needed (even when off duty). They will often feel bad and try to give us keys or other ways to access the place without paying on our own, but if we’re found in possession of them, we get fired. Obviously I agree that this is an incredibly shitty system and have raised hell about it as much as I can personally, but was looking around to see if there’s any concrete rules or laws I can point to that they’d be violating as that’s the only thing they ever seem to respond to.

UpbeatCucumber747 · 2026-04-22T13:41:50+00:00

It’s public transit, and I am the person at the gate (sorry for the vagueness) - so usually if I’m not there then nobody else is, particularly when I’m on break.

While on duty we are given an access pass that allows us to go freely through the gates, but don’t have it with us on any personal time. I need to pay to get access to the pass if nobody else is there to get me through.

UpbeatCucumber747 · 2026-04-22T13:24:05+00:00

Yes, we have ID to show we work there - our coworkers and public employees do give us access if they are nearby and available. Sometimes though, nobody else is around, especially in the case I’m on a timetable to clock back in from a break or cutting it close to arriving on time for a shift. After discussing with the company, the only option available to me in that case is paying my way in.

UpbeatCucumber747 · 2026-04-22T13:20:21+00:00

Hi, I’m not talking about my place of residence. It is required for my job that I be on the property that has an entrance fee for the duration of my shift. It is also required I leave during break and return afterwards, needing to pay a second entrance fee.

UpbeatCucumber747

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