No need to pay for ordinary, midday commutes, DOL says
Executive Take
Employers should audit current pay practices for mid-shift travel now, since a DOL opinion letter gives cover to stop paying for routine midday commutes without waiting for litigation to force the issue.
Executive Summary
The U.S. Department of Labor issued two opinion letters Wednesday clarifying that employers generally do not need to pay employees for ordinary, midday commutes between job sites, addressing what counts as compensable working time under wage and hour law.
Why It Matters
HR and legal leaders managing hourly or field-based workforces need to reassess wage-and-hour compliance and payroll policies, since this guidance directly affects compensable time calculations and potential wage claim exposure.
Bizquad Perspective
Opinion letters aren't binding law, so employers who rely on this guidance without updating written policies still risk state-level wage claims where rules diverge from federal standards.