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Time Worked explained

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Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers must pay employees for all hours worked. “Hours worked” includes any time an employee is required to be on duty, on the employer’s premises, or at a prescribed work location. Below is a breakdown of what is counted and what is not counted as time worked under federal guidelines.

✅ What Counts as Time Worked 

The following time is considered compensable time worked under federal guidelines (FLSA and Portal-to-Portal Act): 

  • Time spent performing principal job duties 

  • Time spent on activities that are integral and indispensable to main job responsibilities 

  • Required donning and doffing of specialized protective gear or uniforms 

  • Waiting time when the employee is required to wait and is not free to use the time for personal purposes (engaged to wait) 

  • Travel between job sites during the workday 

  • Travel for a special one-day assignment in another city (minus normal commute time) 

  • Required meetings, training, and seminars 

  • On-call time when the employee must remain on the employer’s premises or is significantly restricted 

  • Walking time after the first principal work activity has begun 

  • Required pre-shift or post-shift cleanup or preparation activities 

❌ What Does NOT Count as Time Worked 

The following time is not considered compensable under federal guidelines: 

  • Ordinary commuting time from home to the regular worksite 

  • Preliminary or postlaminarly tasks that are not integral or indispensable to the main job 

  • Changing clothes when it is done for convenience and not required for safety or job performance 

  • Waiting time when the employee is free to use the time for personal activities (waiting to be engaged) 

  • Travel as a passenger outside normal working hours during overnight trips 

  • Basic protective gear use (hard hats, hairnets, gloves, safety glasses) when not integral to duties 

  • Voluntary meetings or training outside normal work hours 

  • Unrestricted on-call time when the employee can use the time as they choose 

  • De minimis time — small amounts of time before or after work that are insignificant 

  • Show-up or call-back pay when no work is performed 

 

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