Does an employer have to pay travel time?
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Does an employer have to pay travel time?
We own a concrete company. Our employees report to our office in the morning and then drive our company vehicles to the job site. Travel time is 2-4 hours a day. Do we have to pay travel time? If they drive their vehicle directly to the job site – would we have to pay them travel time?
Asked on February 16, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, New Hampshire
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Yes, if the employees report to work, then drive to the worksite, the drive to and from it is work time and must be paid.
If they drive directly to the job site, the issue of whether you have to pay depends on how far it is. If the job site is approximately as far as their normal morning commute to the office (which you don't have to pay), then you would not have to pay it; if it is longer, however, you should pay the difference in time--e.g. if the normal commute for a worker is 1/2 hour, and he has to drive 1 hour to the job site from home, he should be paid for 1/2 hour.
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