IANAL either, but to ask employees to come to work, UNPAID, for any length of time really should be illegal. If I were a betting man (which I am) I’d advise you to fight this one. I worked at similar jobs for years when I was younger, and my experience tells me management will try and get away with whatever they can regardless of legality. If the job doesn’t mean much to you, take a stand here and make your point. Sometimes its better to have personal satisfaction then give in a take it up the…Subway-type jobs are a dime a dozen.
If you want a somewhat less confrontational way of fighting this battle, just punch in for the time you’re there for the meeting. The ball is then in your boss’s court: does he just shut up and pay you for the time, or does he knowingly break the labor laws in order to assert his authority? Doing it this way also allows him to save face by not having to admit he’s wrong directly to your face (or worse, in front of other workers).
Then again, this might put you at the top of the shit list. Only do it if you’re not that attached to this job.
The other thing I like about my approach is that if he does decide to confront you about it, you may be able to say, “oh, I assumed you were joking about not paying us, since that would be illegal.” Do check the laws before saying this, though.
I agree with the ‘pick your battles carefully’ logic in general. However, a person can get used to bending over and taking it and also get used to avoiding the battle and finding a different job while older.
When you get older, you have kids and mortgages and bills and it makes it tougher to make a stand on principle.
When your 16 working at Subway, this is the time to fight. It could build confidence and character which will do you well in life.
On the other hand, one must not learn to fight battles too much because even if you win, you lose in the adult world. An example of this would be to fight and get paid for these Subway meetings but to be fired for incompetence and never be able to use them for a reference.
Not a big deal for 16 year olds working at Subway but a whole kettle of fish for a 30 year old supporting a family.