FLSA Requirements for Paying Travel Time
One thing is certain - the FLSA requires employers to pay employees' travel time if the travel is all in a day's work. "Time spent by an employee in travel as part of their principal activity, such as travel from job site to job site during the workday, is work time and must be counted as hours worked," per the Department of Labor website.
Employee travel between jobsites can vary due to traffic, route changes, or meal and rest breaks. Chronotek Pro's Travel Time Card gives administrators complete visibility into each trip by documenting travel time, mileage, GPS activity, and any breaks taken during travel.
This article explains how to review pending Travel Time Cards, verify employee travel activity, and approve travel before processing payroll.
It all starts with your issue tiles on the Time screen. When you see the Pending Travel Time issue tile, it means there is a Travel Time Card waiting for review. Click the tile, then select the time card highlighted in red.
Once you have clicked into the time card, select the card highlighted in red and click on the arrow.
When the Travel Time Card opens, you’ll see two approval options: Actual and Auto Approval. Actual approves the employee’s recorded travel time. Auto Approval uses the Google travel estimate plus your configured buffer to calculate the approved travel time. Select the option you want to use, then click Save.
Travel Breaks: If an employee starts a meal or rest break while traveling, the Travel Time Card documents the break as part of the employee's travel record, as shown below.
Use Travel Auto-Approval to Simplify Your Life
Click on the 'Trip Auto-approval Setting' button and make your life easier. If future trips are under that threshold, you will not need to approve that trip. (It shows up as gray, not red😉)
Life just got easier!
Remember to set the auto-approval as soon as possible, as it only takes effect on new/future trips. We use Google Maps™, so you get the best information.
Find more answers to common questions in our Help Center. 😊