Is it legal for a company to not pay for travel time?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Is it legal for a company to not pay for travel time?
Construction company, sends their workers all over, MA and RI but they show up at the shop to punch in, once they punchin they are told where they need to be. They could travel, 30 – 60 minutes to get there but they get that time deducted from their pay.
Asked on July 3, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Rhode Island
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
From what you write, it appears the hourly workers should be paid for their travel time. A company does not need to pay for a worker's morning commute to work, or afternoon commute home; but any travel during the day, to/from the office or shop to clients, worksites, suppliers, etc., at the instruction of the employer is work time and must be paid. Work time is not just "productive" or "billable" time--it includes all time spent doing things, like travel, mandated by the employer for the job.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.