work question-drive-time pay

I believe if it is required for your job then you should be compensated or at least reimbursed for gas.

Here's the situation:

I leave Sunday at 12:00 and drive six hours for a week-long class. I then have to drive six hours home on Friday night from said class. Regular work hours are Mon.-Fri. 8:00-4:30. Should I be compensated for the drive time.

This is the first thing like this I've done, and I dont know what the protocol is, and I don't want to ask and then look like an ass.

Thanks.[/quote]

Well, I know I'll be reimbursed for gas and food. However, I'm not sure if this is standard practice to pay for drive time. I'm taking a company car so I won't get reimbursed for mileage.

any help would be appreciated.

If you are a salaried worker, they probably won't pay for your time. If you are an hourly worker, maybe.

Just ask. What's the worst than can happen?

hahahaha

tens of thousands of people of people do that every week they work. no pay.

Well, I don't want to come across like I'm trying to nickel and dime them, but I also don't want to miss out on a possible 12 hours extra pay.I'm an hourly worker.

............... wrote:

If you are a salaried worker, they probably won't pay for your time. If you are an hourly worker, maybe.

Just ask. What's the worst than can happen?

............... wrote:

If you are a salaried worker, they probably won't pay for your time. If you are an hourly worker, maybe.

Just ask. What's the worst than can happen?

Actually the worst that can happen is bad. I knew a guy who asked whether or not he got an upcoming holiday off (not one of the biggies, a bit more obscure, can't recall which one). For some reason this really pissed off his supervisor. Over the next 2 months this guy was drilled for everything he did until he was eventually fired. The supervisor was a very strict guy who worked non-stop and hated lazy attitudes and I guess he took it as a sign of laziness.

But then again this guy was salary, not sure how hourly work is done...

umm wrote:

............... wrote:

If you are a salaried worker, they probably won't pay for your time. If you are an hourly worker, maybe.

Just ask. What's the worst than can happen?

Actually the worst that can happen is bad. I knew a guy who asked whether or not he got an upcoming holiday off (not one of the biggies, a bit more obscure, can't recall which one). For some reason this really pissed off his supervisor. Over the next 2 months this guy was drilled for everything he did until he was eventually fired. The supervisor was a very strict guy who worked non-stop and hated lazy attitudes and I guess he took it as a sign of laziness.

But then again this guy was salary, not sure how hourly work is done...

Ok, well the worst thing that could happen when I go to bed tonight is my dog rips my throat out, but I'm not gonna stay up all night because a one in a million event may happen.

So your buddy learned that company wasn't a good one to work for. Don't not ask because you are afraid of an unreasonable boss or because you'll be a pain. People have this bizzare aversion to just asking straightforward questions, I think email contributed to this phenomenon.

I doubt you'll be compensated for driving time, but seriously, no matter the answer your boss probably will forget you asked within 2 minutes. I would.

Yes, you should be compensated and you should ask. However, you should deduct the amount of time of your regular commute. Think of it this way: if you live one hour west of where you work and the class is one mile east of where you live, then it would be a wash. Since part of the reason you took your current position is/was based upon your commute, anything above and beyond a resonable "variance" between that commute should be compensated. Since you wouldn't reasonably have accepted a job that requires a 6 hour daily commute, it is not unreasonable to request compensation.

Oh yeah, your company might already have a policy in place, so you should check. It might be to your benefit to "negotiate" a comp day if they will not pay you the hourly rate, reasoning that you were forced to give up a normal day off for business-related travel.

Look in your employee manual.

you know there are people who get paid at your office to answer those questions.