Should I Be Paid for a One-Day Work Trip?

Travel time is a compensation issue that often comes up for employees. After all, many workers spend a lot of time in transit, either for work tasks or commuting. If that time is eligible for payment depends on a variety of factors, such as if the travel was during set work hours or if an overnight stay was required for work reasons.

If you are wondering if your one-day work trip is eligible for pay, consult with an experienced wage and hour lawyer.  An experienced overtime wage lawyer will listen to your situation and help you to understand your rights, including whether you are being compensated fairly or correctly.

Compensation for Work Time

Essentially, an employee is entitled to compensation for work time spent in transit. In the case of a one-day trip, this will include the time spent on a train or flight. When a worker is required to go to a different site during their work hours, or travel to a meeting, that time is paid work time.

When an employee is a non-exempt employee, meaning they are paid hourly, travel pay can be more complex than it is for exempt employees. Exempt employees receive a salary regardless of their travel. Non-exempt employees are entitled for time spent working. What travel time should be counted as work time for non-exempt employees can be difficult to discern. If your job requires a lot of travel, you should speak with one of our experienced Ohio overtime lawyers.

Overnight Travel Can Create Issues

Issues can arise when a non-exempt employee is required to be part of business-related travel including overnight stays. According to federal laws, when an employee stays away from home overnight for work duties, the travel time should be paid when it occurs during the worker’s standard or normal working hours. If the travel is outside of normal hours, it may not need to be paid.

Of course, overnight issues can be avoided if out-of-town trips all take place within one day. In those instances an employee may be compensated for travel from their home to the work location, minus the time of the normal commute. This means the worker is not paid for their normal commute time but is compensated for the travel beyond that amount.

A Columbus wage & hour lawyer can answer your questions surrounding travel, work trips, and compensation. Different situations regarding entitlement to compensation for travel time are handled in different ways, depending on what your employee status is and where you work. If you have not been paid for travel time and believe you have a right to compensation, connect with a legal professional.

Do you get paid for travel at your Ohio job? Contact the overtime lawyers at Coffman Legal LLC today. We are strong and committed overtime attorneys for all Ohio workers who will use our experience and knowledge to help you. Call 614-949-1181 for a free and confidential consultation with our experienced overtime lawyers.