When an hourly employee is out of town for training, what hours is the employer required to pay?
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When an hourly employee is out of town for training, what hours is the employer required to pay?
Asked on May 9, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Iowa
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Determining what hours need to be paid for out-of-town or overnight trips can be very complex and depends on the exact circumstances of the travel and work. That said, as general matter:
The employer needs to pay for the time actually spent training.
The employer does not need to pay for your time in the hotel or your own in the other town, any more than it pays you when you are at home, shopping, going to museusm or the movies, etc.
The employer needs to pay for meal time if the meals are work--e.g. if there are meetings or work being done at them, or if you are required to attend the meal. It does not need to pay for meal time otherwise, including if you and coworkers are having a meal together just because you want to. (Rule of thumb: if you'd be allowed to skip the meal without repurcussions, they don't have to pay.)
It also needs to pay for travel time which occured during normal working hours (more or less); they do not need to pay for after hour or weekend travel.
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