What happens when an operation cannot commence at the designated starting time due to a lack of the minimum required men?

The scenario described concerns how compensation is handled when an operation is delayed because there aren't enough workers present to start on time. In this case, the correct response indicates that pay is determined based on hours worked by employees who are present.

When there is a shortfall of workers for an operation, those who are there are typically compensated for the time they worked, rather than losing their pay entirely or being penalized due to the absence of others. This reflects the principle of paying workers for their contributions, rewarding those who showed up and could perform their duties, thus ensuring fairness in compensation.

This approach encourages attendance while also acknowledging the reality of staffing issues that may arise. It helps maintain morale by ensuring that workers who commit to their shifts are still compensated for their time, rather than facing a situation where pay is canceled or reduced for reasons outside their control.

In contrast, the other options suggest either forfeiting pay entirely or implementing a fixed compensation structure, which does not align with the equitable treatment typically seen in labor agreements when dealing with attendance issues.