Off-the-clock work, which is work that you’re required to do either before your shift starts or after you’ve clocked out for the evening should always be paid. If you are required to do things to get ready for the workday before your shift is starting or at the end of your workday after your shift has already ended but you’re not getting paid with that, then absolutely there are very likely things that you can do about that. I mean, that’s just considered time shaving, it’s considered off-the-clock work.
These are very common claims, unfortunately, but it’s not right for the company to get this free labor from you for this time that you’re working doing your job or doing things to get ready to do your job and not getting paid for it. So you should definitely talk to a lawyer to see if there’s a claim to be made with that off-the-clock work.