Expert: Shirley McAllister, CPP, PHR - 8/10/2011

Question
Our company has two locations (bases). Our staff may be scheduled for either base location, which has a distance of 49.2 miles between bases. What is the rule for paying for travel time in this type of scenario. Employees are told that they may be required to go to either base for the day's work if needed. These are hourly employees.

The following rule is a bit confusing as our employees once sent to the alternate site would complete the entire shift at that location:

     Travel as part of the employee’s principal activity, such
     as travel from one office or job site to another
     during the workday. If an employee is required to report
     to a meeting place to receive instructions, pick up tools,
     or perform other work there, travel from the designated
     place to the workplace is part of the day’s work and must
     be counted as such.

Thank you.

Answer
The trip from home to whatever worksite they arrive at first and the trip home from the last worksite they are at is not paid time it is commuting to and from work.

Any other travel during the day for any reason is worked time and must be paid as such.

So in your situation the travel to the scheduled base is not paid, the travel home from the scheduled base is not paid.

If this employee goes from one base to another that is paid time.

Shirley