We typically have morning meetings once a week or so and on such days management asks us to arrive, punch in, and be ready to go five minutes or so before our usual start time. Five minutes is no big deal, but they have been threatening us with some form of punishment if we aren't there early (some guys are “late”), though we are NOT being paid (the time clock rounds up and/or the boss changes it if you punch in too early).
I vaguely recall some sort of law or rule stating that there is nothing our employer can do as long as we are punched in and ready to go during the hours we are actually being paid, unless we are given “something” in the way of payment. Even if that something is Donuts or the like. Even then, would they not be hard-pressed to punish us for arriving late to a meeting for which we are not paid?
Also, I am an hourly employee (most days), but sometimes I am commission with base pay. What is the ruling there?