Some jobs require employees to travel frequently, and they might wonder if they should be paid for all of the time that they spend on their business trips. Workers are entitled to receive payment for some of the time that they spend traveling, but they are not entitled to receive payment for all of their travel time. Your right to receive payment for your travel time depends on several factors, including your regular hours, whether you stay overnight, and the commute that you have to the airport or other transportation hubs. If you believe that you have not been paid for all of your time, Swartz Swidler might be able to help you.
Travel on the job and commuting
Workers are not entitled to receive payment for their regular commutes to and from work. However, if the workers are provided with transportation from their employers to get from a central office location to a worksite, their employers may have to provide payment for this time.
Travel time that is part of the daily job of the employees must be paid. For example, if you make regular service calls, the time that you spend driving to and from the different locations has to be paid. Employees who are on call and are forced to come into the office during odd hours for emergencies must also be paid for their travel time.
Day trips for business
Workers who go on business trips that last one day must be paid for their travel time. However, your employer will not have to pay you for the time it takes you to travel to the airport even if it takes you longer than your regular commute.
Out of town trips
If you have to go on an out-of-town business trip, you are entitled to receive payment for the time that you spend working. However, your right to payment for the time that you spend traveling depends on the time of day when it happens.
Overnight Trips
If you spend more than a day out of town, the rules are different. Of course, you are entitled to pay for all of the time you spend actually working. However, your right to be paid for time spent in transit depends on the time of day when you travel. If you travel during your regular working hours, you are entitled to be paid even if you travel on a weekend day and your normal work schedule is Monday through Friday.
Contact the employment lawyers at Swartz Swidler
Figuring out whether you should have been paid for the time that you have spent traveling can be confusing. If you think that your employer failed to pay you for all of the time for which you are entitled to payment, schedule a consultation with Swartz Swidler.
