text: can my employer legally require me to be at my duty station & working 5 minutes before my  shift starts? i work a straight 8 hrs. & get 2 paid 10 minute breaks & a paid 20 minute lunch. legally, your employer cannot make you start working any earlier than the exact second you shift starts, but you would have to begin work immediately then. if your contract states an 8 hour day with 40 paid minutes break, then that is all you legally have to work.  sadly, the legal system isn't going to pay much attention to five minutes. if your boss tells you five minutes, then you must think about the reprecussions of refusing to do so, as he could easily find reasons to fire you and would be left unquestioned.  although it's not technically 100% legal, think about it practically before taking any action.