ÿWPCš& ØâýßÛ%"rަ“ÍþDÆþDÝÝ·*øz?ß(y]5MG¢ó›¦ ˜½H:¡ª‰i1¥mñÅ–=WÃy¬(™Uo€‘ªaœªð­.…¡ãÙ­ˆÕ,w/Ûj(Å3¢ìNâ¥N ‹ßC…\8Ç÷<Å‘ÕŽÇ §ü4 ¾Ça¡¦ÙŒ®ƒ_á¨wy7¤“Š¸Â™›AÂÕ öe†´lÇp£={Ŧº¯jG)m¤¯ %E 0GK U:’  Ì Ì ^ Õ wá 4å ù  0c bm 0 Du‚¹b;EC mEN\U8^Á––œW#óå`û,[c‡Éê ê 5³"³"³"³"³"è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è%è% Bð%ð%ð%ð%ð%ð%ð%ð%ð%ð%ð% 0 &˜HP LaserJet 5/5M - StandardÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0<èÀ( 9Z+&Courier RegularX(îí$¡¡Ô€XmTXXXÔ,°À`   "CG Times Bold ÿÝ ƒ„Xs$ÝÔ€X!âXXXÔÓ  ÓòòÚ  Ú5Ú  Úóó€€Ý  ÝÔ_ÔòòSteineróó€concerned€only€time€spent€in€the€donning€and€doffing€ofÐ ° Ðspecial€protective€equipment€and€in€required€protective€showers.€Ð †Ö ÐòòSteineróó€did€not€purport€to€say€that€all€time€walking€to€where€thatÐ \¬ Ðequipment€is€stored,€waiting€to€retrieve€and€return€it,€and€thenÐ 2‚ Ðwalking€to€the€time€clock€is€compensable.h¤j0s ´P/0‚ ‚ÐHŠ3|x(;3è$©©Ý ƒîí!ÝÔ€X-šXXXÔÝ  Ý- ù-(Ã$òòÚ  Ú*Ú  Úóó Ô 0 ' Turner0Turner .   - ù-ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ<4šÛ 9Z+‹ Courier New  ·Ý ƒ„Xs$ÝÔ€X!âXXXÔÓ  ÓòòÚ  Ú3Ú  Úóó€€Ý  ÝÔ_ÔIn€their€Statement€of€Issues,€Employees€contend€that€they€appealÐ ° Ðfrom€the€district€court's€finding€that€Barber€Foods€is€entitled€toÐ †Ö Ðsummary€judgment€on€the€issue€of€whether€time€spent€by€maintenanceÐ \¬ Ðand€shipping€and€receiving€employees€is€de€minimis.€€However,€theyÐ 2‚ Ðhave€waived€their€right€to€appeal€by€failing€to€make€an€attempt€atÐ X Ðdeveloped€argumentation.€€òòTwomeyóó€v.€òòDelta€Airlines€Pilots€PensionóóÐ Þ. ÐòòPlanóó,€328€F.3d€27,€33€n.4€(1st€Cir.€2003). ’Ý ƒ„Xs$ÝÔ€X!âXXXÔÓ  ÓòòÚ  Ú8Ú  Úóó€€Ý  ÝÔ_ÔòòSeeóó€òòJewell€Ridge€Coal€Corp.óó€v.€òòLocal€No.€6167,€United€MineÐ ° ÐWorkersóó,€325€U.S.€161,€163„66€(1945);€òòTennessee€Coal,€Iron.€&€R.R.Ð †Ö ÐCo.óó€v.€òòÔ_ÔMuscodaÔ_Ô€Local€No.€123óó,€321€U.S.€590,€598„99€(1944). Ý ƒ„Xs$ÝÔ€X!âXXXÔÓ  ÓòòÚ  Ú7Ú  Úóó€€Ý  ÝÔ_ÔThe€instruction€went€on€to€clarify€the€jury's€duty:Ð ° ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àIn€deciding€how€much€time€it€takes€anÐ \¬ Ðassociate€to€don€and€doff€required€clothingÐ 2‚ Ðand€equipment,€you€are€not€to€decide€theÐ X Ðactual€time€it€may€take€any€individualÐ Þ. Ðemployee€or€associate€to€perform€thoseÐ ´  Ðactivities,€rather€you€must€decide€the€amountÐ Š Ú Ðof€time€that€you€think€is€reasonably€requiredÐ ` ° Ðby€a€reasonably€diligent€associate€or€employeeÐ 6 †  Ðto€don€and€doff€the€required€clothing€andÐ  \  Ðequipment. ÛÝ ƒ„Xs$ÝÔ€X!âXXXÔÓ  ÓòòÚ  Ú1Ú  Úóó€€Ý  ÝÔ_ÔIn€addition,€the€Secretary€has€filed€two€letters€pursuant€toÐ ° ÐFed.€R.€App.€P.€28(j). VÝ ƒ„Xs$ÝÔ€X!âXXXÔÓ  ÓòòÚ  Ú6Ú  Úóó€€Ý  ÝÔ_Ô"[A]ctivities€such€as€checking€in€and€out€and€waiting€in€line€toÐ ° Ðdo€so€would€not€ordinarily€be€regarded€as€integral€parts€of€theÐ †Ö Ðprincipal€activity€or€activities."€€29€C.F.R.€ðð€790.8. "Ý ƒ„Xs$ÝÔ€X!âXXXÔÓ  ÓòòÚ  Ú9Ú  Úóó€€Ý  ÝÔ_ÔòòCompareóó,€òòe.g.óó,€òòAlvarezóó€v.€òòIBP,€Inc.óó,€339€F.3d€894,€903€(9th€Cir.Ð ° Ð2003)€(extending€òòSteineróó€to€such€items€as€sanitary€aprons)€òòwithóóÐ †Ö Ðòòe.g.óó,€òòReichóó€v.€òòIBP,€Inc.óó,€38€F.3d€1123,€1126€(10th€Cir.€1994)Ð \¬ Ð(holding€that€the€donning€and€doffing€of€sanitary€Ô_ÔoutergarmentsÔ_Ô,Ð 2‚ Ðalthough€required,€was€not€integral€and€indispensable);€òòAndersonóó€v.Ð X ÐòòPilgrim's€Pride€Corp.óó,€147€F.€Supp.€2d€556,€563€(E.D.€Tex.Ð Þ. Ð2001)(same),€òòÔ_Ôaff'dÔ_Ôóó,€WL€1396949€(5th€Cir.€2002). YÝ ƒ„Xs$ÝÔ€X!âXXXÔÓ  ÓòòÚ  Ú2Ú  Úóó€€Ý  ÝÔ_ÔIn€their€brief,€Employees€argue€that€the€district€court€erred€inÐ ° Ðfinding€that€Employees€failed€to€raise€in€their€Complaint€or€inÐ †Ö Ðtheir€Opposition€to€Summary€Judgment€a€claim€that€they€are€entitledÐ \¬ Ðto€compensation€for€Employees'€activities€after€punching€out€on€theÐ 2‚ Ðtime€clocks.€€Because€we€find€that€it€is€at€least€arguable€that€theÐ X Ðissue€was€raised€below,€we€address€it€on€the€merits. ¿Ý ƒ„Xs$ÝÔ€X!âXXXÔÓ  ÓòòÚ  Ú10Ú  Úóó€€Ý  ÝÔ_ÔòòAndersenóó,€147€F.€Supp.€2d€at€563€n.12€(holding€that€"walk€time"Ð ° Ðto€employeeððs€work€station€was€not€compensable),€òòaff'dóó,€2002€WLÐ †Ö Ð1396949€(5th€Cir.);€òòReichóó,€38€F.3d€at€1127€(upholding€the€denial€ofÐ \¬ Ð"walk€and€wait"€time€related€to€donning€and€doffing). +Ý ƒ„Xs$ÝÔ€X!âXXXÔÓ  ÓòòÚ  Ú4Ú  Úóó€€Ý  ÝÔ_ÔThe€regulations€state€that€"[p]eriods€of€time€between€theÐ ° Ðcommencement€of€the€employee's€first€principal€activity€and€theÐ †Ö Ðcompletion€of€his€last€principal€activity€on€any€workday€must€beÐ \¬ Ðincluded€in€the€computation€of€hours€worked€to€the€same€extent€asÐ 2‚ Ðwould€be€required€if€the€Portal[„to„Portal]€Act€had€not€beenÐ X Ðenacted.€€The€principles€for€determining€hours€worked€within€theÐ Þ. Ð'workday'€proper€will€continue€to€be€those€established€under€theÐ ´  ÐFair€Labor€Standards€Act€without€reference€to€the€PortalÐ Š Ú ÐAct...."€€29€C.F.R.€ðð€790.6.  d(J2Xs$¤¤Ý ƒîí!ÝÔ€X-šXXXÔÝ  ÝÓ  ÓòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó€€Ý ƒîí!ÝÔ€X!âXXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€Xð XXX!âÔÔ€°Bò°XXð ÔÑ€ÑÑ8€!âXXdÖdÈ8ÑÑ  ÑÙ*ƒ!Ùà@4 4 ìàUnited€States€Court€of€AppealsˆÐ ° ÐÔ€„[ê„°°BòÔà@   ìàFor€the€First€CircuitˆÐ „Ô ÐÌÔ€„Âu„„„[êÔÔ€X!âX„„ÂuÔßA€y) °°` dE<C ` AßÐ D ” ÐÌÌNos.€02„1679Ð ÿ O Ðà  à02„1739Ð Õ % ÐÌà@xx!ìàÔ_ÔABDELAÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔTUMÔ_Ô,€ET€AL.,ˆÐ  Ñ  ÐÌà@ˆˆìàPlaintiffs,€Appellants,ˆÐ -}  ÐÌà@tt)ìàv.ˆÐ Ù)  ÐÌà@È È ìàBARBER€FOODS,€INC.,€d/b/a€BARBER€FOODS,ˆÐ …Õ  ÐÌà@<< ìàDefendant,€Appellee.ˆÐ 1 ÐÌÌßA€y) °°` d³E<²` AßÐ ³ ÐÌà@` ` ìàAPPEALS€FROM€THE€UNITED€STATES€DISTRICT€COURTˆÐ ˜è ÐÌà@ìàFOR€THE€DISTRICT€OF€MAINEˆÐ D” ÐÌà@È È ìà[Hon.€Gene€Carter,€òòU.S.€District€Judgeóó]ˆÐ ð@ ÐÌÌßA€y) °°` d³E<q` AßÐ r ÐÌà@„„'ìàBeforeˆÐ W§ ÐÌà@<< ìàBoudin,€òòChief€Judgeóó,ˆÐ  S! ÐÌà@| | ìàTorruella€and€Lynch,€òòCircuit€Judgesóó.ˆÐ ¯!ÿ# ÐÌßA€y) °°` dE<Z#` AßÐ [#«% ÐÌÓ  Óà  àòòLori€B.€Ô_ÔKischÔ_Ôóó,€with€whom€òòTimothy€B.€Flemingóó,€òòCharles€R.€Dixonóó,Ð @$' ÐòòGordon,€Ô_ÔSilbermanÔ_Ô,€Wiggins€&€Ô_ÔChildsÔ_Ô,€P.C.óó,€and€òòWilliam€C.€NugentóóÐ %f ( Ðwere€on€brief,€for€appellants.Ð ì%Ž Ðà ` àThe€trial€judge's€instruction€contained€no€error.€€TheÐ ê: Ðinstruction€adequately€illuminated€the€applicable€law€by€statingÐ –æ Ðthat€donning€includes€obtaining€the€item.€€Consequently,€we€findÐ B’ Ðthat€the€instruction€did€not€confuse€or€mislead€the€jury.Ð  î> Ðà@hh#ìàò òIV.€€òòConclusionó óóóˆÐ ° Ðà ` àFor€the€reasons€stated€above,€we€affirm€the€districtÐ xÈ Ðcourt€judgment.Ð $t Ðà ` àò òòòAffirmedóó.ó óÐ Ð  ÐÌà@˜ ˜ ìàò òConcurring€opinion€follows.ó óˆÐ  D ”  Ðà ` àò òBOUDIN,€òòChief€Judgeóó€(concurring)ó ó.€€The€central€issue€inÐ ° Ðthis€case€is€whether€walking€and€waiting€time,€incident€to€theÐ xÈ Ðdonning€and€doffing€of€required€clothes€and€equipment,€areÐ $t Ðcompensable€where€(according€to€findings€in€the€district€court)€theÐ Ð  Ðtime€spent€in€donning€and€doffing€is€minimal€but€the€combinedÐ | Ì Ðwalking€and€waiting€time€may€be€extensive.€€There€may€be€no€"right"Ð ( x  Ðanswer€short€of€the€Supreme€Court's€reading€of€its€own€precedents,Ð Ô$  Ðbut€the€problem€can€at€least€be€understood€if€the€history€andÐ €Ð  Ðunderlying€tensions€are€candidly€arrayed.Ð ,|  Ðà ` àThe€original€Fair€Labor€Standards€Act€made€compensableÐ Ø( Ðtime€spent€in€"work,"€but€it€defined€the€concept€only€in€the€mostÐ „Ô Ðgeneral€terms€without€providing€the€Secretary€of€Labor€with€powerÐ 0€ Ðto€make€legislative„type€rules€defining€€what€constituted€"work."€Ð Ü, ÐThis€left€many€problems€to€be€solved€piecemeal€by€litigation.€€OneÐ ˆØ Ðhad€to€do€with€traveling€within€the€job€site€before€the€mainÐ 4„ Ðactivity€commenced;€another,€with€the€donning€of€special€gear.€€AÐ à0 Ðclassic€example€is€the€minerððs€travel€and€descent€from€the€mineÐ ŒÜ  Ðportal€to€the€working€face.Ð 8!ˆ" Ðà ` àAgainst€the€background€of€the€New€Deal€(and€the€war),€itÐ ä"4$ Ðwas€not€hard€for€the€Supreme€Court€to€conclude€that€subterraneanÐ $à& Ðtravel€through€dark€and€dangerous€tunnels,€undertaken€for€the€mineÐ <&Œ!( Ðownerððs€benefit,€was€work.׃×Ý ƒÃÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Shortly€thereafter,€the€Supreme€CourtÐ è'8#* Ðextended€the€reasoning€in€the€mine„worker€cases€to€conclude€thatÐ ° Ðtime€spent€by€employees€of€a€medium„sized€pottery€factory€inÐ \¬ Ðwalking€from€time€clock€to€work€bench,€and€in€making€preliminaryÐ X Ðpreparations€such€as€donning€and€doffing€specialized€clothing,€wasÐ ´  Ðwork€just€as€much€as€the€actual€productive€activity€that€followed.€Ð ` ° ÐòòAndersonóó€v.€òòMt.€Clemens€Pottery€Co.óó,€328€U.S.€680,€691„93€(1946).Ð  \  Ðà ` àThese€holdings€contradicted€actual€pay€practice€withinÐ ¸  Ðthe€industries€and€created€large€overhanging€liabilities€forÐ d´  Ðemployers.€€To€the€extent€that€workers€received€more€than€theÐ `  Ðminimum€wage,€the€decisions€also€upset€underlying€bargains.€€AÐ ¼  Ðflood€of€lawsuits€followed.€€Congress€responded€with€the€Portal„to„Ð h¸ ÐPortal€Act€to€cut€off€these€claims€for€the€past€and€to€provide€inÐ d Ðthe€future€(with€exceptions€not€here€relevant)€that€compensationÐ À Ðwas€not€required€for:Ð l¼ ÐÓÓà8 ` à(1)€walking,€riding,€or€traveling€to€and€fromÐ h Ðthe€actual€place€of€performance€of€theÐ î> Ðprincipal€activity€or€activities€which€suchÐ Ä Ðemployee€is€employed€to€perform,€andКê` x` x ÐÌà8 ` à(2)€activities€which€are€preliminary€to€orÐ F –! Ðpostliminary€to€said€principal€activity€orÐ !l" Ðactivities,Ðò!B#` x` x ÐÌà8 ` àwhich€occur€either€prior€to€the€time€on€anyÐ ž#î% Ðparticular€workday€at€which€such€employeeÐ t$Ä& Ðcommences,€or€subsequent€to€the€time€on€anyÐ J%š ' Ðparticular€workday€at€which€he€ceases,€suchÐ  &p!( Ðprincipal€activity€or€activities€.€.€.€.Ðö&F")` x` x ÐÌ29€U.S.C.€ðð€254(a)€(2000).Ð ¢(ò#+ ÐÌÓp“Óà ` àA€decade€later,€this€new€legislative€balance€was€resetÐ N*ž%- Ð(and€perhaps€upset)€in€a€small€way€by€a€new€Supreme€Court€decision.€Ð ú+J'/ ÐIn€òòSteineróó€v.€òòMitchellóó,€350€U.S.€247€(1956),€the€Justices€held€thatÐ ° Ðthe€Portal„to„Portal€Act€did€not€cover€the€time€spent€donning€andÐ \¬ Ðdoffing€of€special€clothing€and€time€spent€showering,€in€facilitiesÐ X Ðrequired€by€state€law,€to€protect€workers€dealing€with€dangerouslyÐ ´  Ðcaustic€and€toxic€materials.€€And,€since€the€Portal„to„Portal€ActÐ ` ° Ðdid€not€apply,€the€time€was€to€be€treated€as€compensable€work€underÐ  \  Ðthe€Fair€Labor€Standards€Act.Ð ¸  Ðà ` àòòSteineróó€was€an€understandable€reaction„„after€all,€theÐ d´  Ðdangers€were€extreme€and€unique€to€the€job„„and€the€decisionÐ `  Ðeffectively€invoked€a€verbal€formula€culled€from€the€legislativeÐ ¼  Ðhistory€of€the€Act,€350€U.S.€at€256€(concluding€that€pre„shift€andÐ h¸ Ðpost„shift€activities€are€compensable€if€they€are€an€"integral€andÐ d Ðindispensable"€part€of€the€principal€activity);€but€the€tensionÐ À Ðwith€the€Portal„to„Portal€Actððs€underlying€policy€has€been€lessÐ l¼ Ðeasy€to€escape€as€òòSteineróó€has€been€extended.Ð h Ðà ` àOne€such€extension€by€the€lower€courts€embracedÐ Ä Ðprotective€clothing€necessitated€by€less€extreme€health€or€safetyÐ pÀ  Ðconcerns,€although€the€precedents€are€not€uniform.׃×Ý ƒÃÝòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€However,€theÐ !l" Ðmore€serious€problem€for€employers€arises€in€cases€such€as€this€oneÐ È"$ Ðby€attempts€to€extend€òòSteineróó€further€to€walking€and€waitingÐ t$Ä& Ðincident€to€such€donning€and€doffing.€€This€course€may€greatlyÐ ° Ðextend€the€amount€of€time€in€question€and€may€seem€especiallyÐ \¬ Ðincongruous€where€the€amount€of€time€spent€in€actually€donning€andÐ X Ðdoffing€clothes€and€equipment€is€generally€pretty€minimal.Ð ´  Ðà ` àThe€Secretary€defends€such€an€extension€by€combiningÐ ` ° ÐòòSteineróó's€verbal€formula„„"integral€and€indispensable"„„withÐ  \  Ðanother€settled€principle:€that€once€the€workday€has€begun€with€theÐ ¸  Ðfirst€principal€activity,€anything€else€until€the€workday€ends€isÐ d´  Ðcompensable€unless€the€employee€is€essentially€on€his€own€(òòe.g.óó,Ð `  Ðlunch€breaks).€€On€this€theory,€a€worker€who€picks€up€and€puts€onÐ ¼  Ða€required€helmet€at€the€plant€entrance„„an€activity€integral€to€aÐ h¸ Ðprincipal€activity€under€òòSteineróó€(as€extended€by€lower€courts)„„Ð d Ðthen€must€be€compensated€for€everything€else€that€happens€(òòe.g.óó,Ð À Ðwalking€and€waiting€to€pick€up€more€equipment,€walking€to€the€timeÐ l¼ Ðclock€at€the€production€floor€entrance,€waiting€to€punch€in).Ð h Ðà ` àYet,€thus€extended,€the€tension€with€the€Portal„to„PortalÐ Ä ÐAct€becomes€acute:€after€all,€why€is€this€complex€of€donning,Ð pÀ  Ðdoffing,€waiting€and€travel€within€the€Barber€plant€very€differentÐ !l" Ðfrom€the€preliminary€activities€which€were€involved€in€the€òòMt.Ð È"$ ÐClemensóó€case„„one€of€the€targets€of€the€Portal„to„Portal€Act.€Ð t$Ä& ÐFurther,€the€legislative€history€and€the€Secretary's€ownÐ  &p!( Ðregulations€give€examples€of€events€excluded€from€compensableÐ Ì'#* Ðworkð!ð„such€as€time€spent€waiting€to€punch€in€and€time€spent€walkingÐ x)È$, Ðfrom€plant€gate€to€work€bench„„that€appear€at€odds€with€herÐ $+t&. Ðposition€in€this€case.€€òòSeeóó€S.€Rep.€No.€80„48,€òòóóat€47€(1947);€29Ð ° ÐC.F.R.€ðð€790.7.Ð \¬ Ðà ` àThe€Secretary€answers,€in€effect,€that€those€examplesÐ X Ðassumed€that€no€required€helmet€was€donned€at€the€entranceð!ð„butÐ ´  Ðshould€this€really€convert€everything€after€into€compensable€workÐ ` ° Ðwhen€it€would€not€otherwise€be?€€In€any€event,€the€Secretary€canÐ  \  Ðcite€a€favorable€result€in€the€Ninth€Circuit,€òòseeóó€òòAlvarezóó,€339€F.3dÐ ¸  Ðat€906„07;€but€the€Fifth€and€Tenth€Circuits,€addressing€variants€onÐ d´  Ðthis€theme,€have€resisted€the€Secretaryððs€result,€although€not€forÐ `  Ðthe€same€reasons.׃×Ý ƒÃÝòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ¼  Ðà ` àOne€further€basis€for€resisting€the€Secretary€derivesÐ h¸ Ðfrom€yet€another€principle€from€the€Supreme€Court,€namely,€thatÐ d Ðunder€certain€circumstances€time€spent€on€a€de€minimis€activityÐ À Ðthat€is€not€the€main€activity€of€the€worker€should€be€disregarded.€Ð l¼ ÐòòSeeóóòòMt.€Clemensóó,€328€U.S.€at€692„93.€€If€the€time€spent€donning€andÐ h Ðdoffing€is€de€minimis,€can€it€also€not€be€disregarded€as€startingÐ Ä Ðthe€workday€and€allow€courts€to€disregard€the€associated€walkingÐ pÀ  Ðand€waiting?€€Such€a€result€is€not€on€its€face€at€odds€with€òòSteineróóÐ !l" Ðwhere€the€donning€and€doffing€and€showering€were€not€claimed€to€beÐ È"$ Ðâ âde€minimis.Ð t$Ä& Ðà ` àThe€Secretary€replies€that€the€de€minimis€concept€hasÐ ° Ðâ ânothing€to€do€with€when€the€workday€begins€or€ends€but€the€deÐ \¬ Ðminimis€concept€is€much€fuzzier€than€the€Secretary€lets€on:€in€theÐ X ÐSupreme€Court€case€that€spawned€it,€the€Court€stated€broadly€thatÐ ´  Ð"compensable€working€time€is€involved"€only€"when€an€employee€isÐ ` ° Ðrequired€to€give€up€a€substantial€measure€of€his€time€and€effort."€Ð  \  ÐòòMt.€Clemensóó,€328€U.S.€at€692.€€So€one€òòcouldóó€€say€that€a€de€minimisÐ ¸  Ðactivity€which€is€non„compensable€time€under€òòMt.€Clemensóó€does€notÐ d´  Ðstart€of€the€workday,€at€least€when€preliminary€to€arrival€"on€theÐ `  Ðfactory€floor."Ð ¼  Ðà ` àThus,€two€positions€are€juxtaposed.€€One€is€theÐ h¸ ÐSecretaryððs€mechanical€combination€of€òòSteineróó€with€a€rigidÐ d Ðð ðeverything€after€is€workðð€principle.€€The€other€is€to€treatÐ À Ðrequired€donning€and€doffing€as€compensable€where€more€than€deÐ l¼ Ðminimis€but,€where€it€is€not,€leaving€both€it€òòandóó€any€associatedÐ h Ðwalking€and€waiting€time€as€non„compensable.€€Neither€outcome€isÐ Ä Ðimpossible€analytically€and€neither€is€clearly€dictated€by€SupremeÐ pÀ  ÐCourt€precedent€or€underlying€policy.Ð !l" Ðà ` àSo€where€does€the€balance€of€advantage€lie?€€Admittedly,Ð È"$ Ðthe€donning,€doffing,€waiting€and€walking€involved€are€in€theÐ t$Ä& Ðemployerððs€service:€but€that€was€equally€true€in€the€òòMt.€ClemensóóÐ  &p!( Ðcase€and€Congress€made€a€policy€decision€against€requiredÐ Ì'#* Ðcompensation.€€And,€while€the€Secretaryððs€interpretive€viewÐ x)È$, Ð(although€non„binding)€is€entitled€to€some€deference,€òòUnited€StatesóóÐ $+t&. Ðv.€òòMead€Corp.óó,€533€U.S.€218,€228€(2001),€it€is€recent€and€offeredÐ ° Ðonly€in€litigation:€no€explicit€regulation€mandates€the€Secretary'sÐ \¬ Ðoutcome€and€the€text€of€C.F.R.€ðð€790.7(g)€n.49€points€towardsÐ X Ðexcluding€the€walking€and€waiting€time.Ð ´  Ðà ` àOn€Barber's€side,€as€already€noted,€the€history€andÐ ` ° Ðlanguage€of€the€Portal„to„Portal€Act€tend€to€favor€Barber,€as€doÐ  \  Ðtwo€of€the€three€circuit€decisions;€the€question€is€òòhow€faróó€òòSteineróóÐ ¸  Ðhas€qualified€the€statute.€€Perhaps€it€is€enough€for€a€lower€courtÐ d´  Ðthat€the€Secretary's€position€is,€in€practical€effect,€aÐ `  Ðsubstantial€step€beyond€òòSteineróó.€€As€òòSteineróó€itself€tempers€theÐ ¼  ÐPortal„to„Portal€Act's€main€thrust,€probably€its€extension€shouldÐ h¸ Ðbe€left€to€the€Supreme€Court.Ð d Ðà ` àFinally,€it€appears€that€wages€at€the€Barber€plant€wereÐ À Ðset€against€a€background€practice€of€treating€as€non„compensableÐ l¼ Ðthe€donning,€doffing,€walking€and€waiting€involved€in€this€case.€Ð h ÐUnless€those€wages€are€the€federal€minimum,€a€decision€that€nowÐ Ä Ðsuch€time€is€compensable€will€likely€be€offset€by€wage€adjustmentsÐ pÀ  Ðin€the€future,€leaving€only€a€one„€time€windfall€for€employees.€€ItÐ !l" Ðis€hard€to€begrudge€this€to€workers€doing€difficult€andÐ È"$ Ðdisagreeable€work,€but€the€situation€does€bear€an€uncannyÐ t$Ä& Ðresemblance€to€that€which€prompted€the€Portal„to„Portal€Act.€€ItÐ  &p!( Ðmay€be€time€for€the€Supreme€Court€to€have€another€look€at€theÐ Ì'#* Ðproblem.