travel time outside my normal commute area
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travel time outside my normal commute area
Robert Half International asked me to fill a contract position that is 2.5 hours from my home. I drive over on Monday and back on Friday. I was told to put in 40 hours a week. Are the 5 hours of travel part of the total 40?
both locations are in Iowa
I was originally told the contract would have me drive over for only one day a week, then when I started I was told I needed to be onsite every day, through at least the first two months.
Asked on March 8, 2018 under Employment Labor Law, Iowa
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
There is no additional pay for travel beyond your "normal commute area"--there is no concept in the law that if someone has a longer than "normal" or typical commute, they are paid for some of that time. If you agree to take a position 2.5 hours way, that's simply your commute--no one forced you to take the job, and having agreed to take it, you cannot require or demand pay for the travel.
IF you had a local office in your area that you normally worked out of, then if you were sent for some weeks, say, to work out of client's distant office, you'd get pay for the additional travel (if you were an hourly worker), since then you are traveling beyond the commute you agreed to when you took the job: the extra travel is not part of your regular commute to work. But you write that you agreed to take a position 2.5 hours away; you agred to a long commute, and so are stuck with it. Your option is to seek other employment.
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