Seyfarth Synopsis: While employers
usually don't need to pay for travel time associated with an
employee's ordinary commute, federal and California law create
exceptions that employers should know—particularly when
company policy requires a certain type of transportation.
For many of us, automobile traffic—at least during the
B.C. (before covid) era—has been as synonymous with
California as its sunny weather and ocean beaches. Many businesses
have adopted creative policies to help mitigate the stress that
traveling employees face, but these policies sometimes create
unintended costs by requiring businesses to pay for the travel
time.
When Is Travel Time Compensable?
Generally, employees aren't entitled to pay for their
ordinary commute to and from work. There are, however, some notable
exceptions under federal and state law.
