California Labor Law For Travel Pay: Understanding The Rules

Quick Summary

California labor law for travel pay sets clear rules on when workers must be paid for time spent traveling. Regular commuting from home to work is usually unpaid. But travel between job sites, long-distance trips for work, and travel during the workday often count as paid hours. Workers who are not paid for covered travel time have the right to file a wage claim or seek legal help.

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The California labor law for travel pay draws a line between time you get paid for and time you do not. Your normal drive from home to the first job site is not paid time. The trip back at the end of the day is not paid either. But once you are on the clock, travel between work sites counts as hours worked. 

When workers are not paid what the law requires, we at Sirmabekian Law Firm help them recover those lost wages. An unpaid wages lawyer can review your case and help you get every dollar you are owed.

When Travel Time Is Paid Under California Labor Law For Travel Pay

California follows both federal and state rules on travel pay. The federal Portal-to-Portal Act says normal commuting is not compensable. But California law often gives workers more protection. Here are the main times when travel must be paid.

Travel Between Job Sites

Once your workday starts, moving from one work location to another is paid time. If you report to the main office and then drive to a client meeting, that drive is on the clock. The same goes for running work errands during the day. If you pick up supplies between job sites, those miles and minutes count.

Travel to a Distant Work Site

Sometimes an employer asks a worker to report to a site that is much farther than the usual workplace. If the distance is substantially greater, the extra travel time may need to be paid. A one-time trip to help at another branch across town is not the same as your daily commute. Courts look at how far the trip is and how often it happens.

Overnight and Out-of-Town Travel

When work requires staying away from home, travel pay rules get more complex. Time spent traveling during your regular work hours on a regular workday counts as paid time. For example, if you normally work 9 to 5 and take a 2 p.m. flight on a Wednesday, that is paid time. 

But on a non-workday, like a Sunday, simply sitting on a plane is not compensable unless you are doing actual work during the trip. Answering emails, taking work calls, or reviewing documents while traveling turns that time into paid hours.

Required Vehicle Use

If your job requires you to use your own car for work tasks beyond commuting, you may also be owed mileage pay. The IRS sets a standard mileage rate each year to cover gas, wear, and upkeep on your vehicle. Employers who fail to reimburse mileage can face wage claims as well. If you faced pushback or unfair treatment after asking for your travel pay, a discrimination lawyer can help protect your rights.

Common Travel Pay Violations

Workers miss out on travel pay for a few common reasons. Here are two that come up often:

• Unpaid travel between sites: A worker clocks in at the office, drives 45 minutes to a job site, and the employer only pays for time at each location. The drive in the middle should be paid.
• Off-the-clock errands: A boss asks a worker to drop off a package or grab supplies before heading home. That time is often work time and must be paid.

If any of these sound familiar, you may have a wage claim. Keep a log of your travel time and speak up sooner rather than later. A wrongful termination lawyer can also help if you faced backlash for asking about your pay.

What to Do If You Are Not Paid for Travel Time

Start by tracking your time. Write down when you leave one site and arrive at the next. Note any errands or extra stops your boss asks you to make. Good records make all the difference later.

Next, raise the issue with your employer. Some bosses simply do not know the rules. A calm, clear request can fix the problem fast. If that does not work, you can file a wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner’s Office. The state can order your employer to pay back wages plus penalties.

At Sirmabekian Law Firm, we focus on wage and hour cases and have helped thousands of workers across California. Our team speaks Spanish and works with all workers, no matter their background. We know the California labor law for travel pay inside and out. If you are also missing meal or rest breaks, a meal and rest breaks lawyer can help you add up what you are owed.

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