Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers proudly supports Washington State workers who don’t receive the pay they’ve worked for and earned. Employers can unfairly deny reimbursement of the expense of travel and travel time for workers, and this goes against Washington and Federal labor laws. If this has happened to you and you want to know how to get the money you are owed, contact us.
Let’s go over how to hold your employer financially accountable for everything that’s been withheld. In some cases, there are ways to receive more than you are owed for your overtime hours.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Help Get Unpaid Travel Time Compensated by My Boss?
Yes, in some cases. Your lawyer can help you hold your employer responsible for mistakes. Your lawyer is also helpful when an employer is purposely trying to withhold earnings that you’ve been promised. That can include the income guaranteed to you for your travel time and expenses.
You may need a Washington State Unpaid Wage Lawyer’s help if these are factors in your case:
- If your wage loss is substantial, consult with a lawyer
- If your case is complex, consult with a lawyer
- If your case will require a lot of investigative work and document retrieval, consult with a lawyer
- If your employer will be fighting the claim, you should consult with a lawyer
- If your claim has been rejected
- If you feel you’ll have to file a lawsuit against your company
Your attorney can often earn you more for your wage claim with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). This is more than you might be able to win by filing a claim yourself.
In some cases, your attorney can secure more for you than you are even owed. If an employer is found to have purposely withheld earnings from you, they may be forced to pay you double what’s owed for travel time. In some instances, the employer must also pay your attorney fees based on the legal text found in the Revised Code of Washington 49.52.070.
When Does a Washington State Employer Owe Me for Work Travel Time?
Washington’s L&I lays out the type of travel time that should be reimbursed by an employer. It’s Employment Standards for Hours Worked explains that this travel time generally applies to time that’s spent away from the office for work purposes.
It’s easier when employees are sent on business trips. But the determination can be harder when employees are going from job site to job site or traveling to work from home.
The explanation of administrative policy answers several important questions:
“3. What is travel time, and when is it considered ‘hours worked’? Travel time is time spent by an employee travelling for a work-related purpose.”
Hours Worked is defined as:
- hours that an employee is authorized or required by the employer…
- …to be on duty
- …to be on the employer’s premises or at a predetermined workplace.
The same definition would apply to an employee’s time in a work vehicle. That time spent going from home to the worksite would earn pay if it counted as hours worked.
The Department of L&I explains it this way:
“Time spent driving or riding in a company-provided vehicle during an employee’s ordinary commute, from home to the first job site of the day, or from the last job site of the day to home, is not considered hours worked if the employee is not on duty and performs no work while driving or riding in the company-provided vehicle.”
The determination can depend on how many personal stops or activities occur during the commute and how many work-related stops or activities are accomplished.
A Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyer on your side helps you clear up any questions over your travel time and any misconceptions your employer has. We want you to receive compensation for every cent that should have been included in your paycheck.
What Are My Options If My Employer Doesn’t Pay Me for Travel Time?
Workers should receive financial compensation for the travel they must complete for their jobs. It includes any mandatory travel for work purposes. When employers don’t pay employees for this time, it’s considered wage theft. You have the right to demand compensation.
Agricultural workers might be asked to drive from one farm location to another and should be paid for the time spent on travel. Overnight travel to attend meetings or training sessions can earn travel pay. In other instances, employees may be asked to deliver tools or equipment to other work sites.
As detailed above, you can file a claim with the State’s Labor & Industrial Relations administrators. These administrators need to hear about every detail in your case and be made aware of the hardships withheld income has caused in your life.
If the state rejects your case or doesn’t offer enough in compensation to cover everything you are owed, your lawyer can help you file a lawsuit directly targeting your employer.
What If I’m Threatened by My Employer?
Your employer cannot make threats or fire you simply because you reported a wage dispute. If your company engages in this type of behavior, you can report the fine. Your employer can face fines and even a lawsuit.
Your lawyer will also serve as strong protection during the claims process once you’ve decided to speak up for what’s fair. Your lawyer helps you report the employer and will have evidence prepared for a lawsuit if necessary.
The Department of L&I explains that this protection extends to all workers in Washington:
“While Washington is an at-will employment state, employers cannot fire or retaliate against an employee who exercises a protected right or files a complaint under certain employment laws.”
The protections apply to workers no matter their immigration status:
“Effective July 1, 2025, additional protections are available for workers when employers use immigration-related threats to discourage or retaliate against the usage of certain workplace rights.”
Contact a Washington Unpaid Wage Lawyer Today
If your employer isn’t reimbursing you for the time you spend traveling for work, you have legal rights that need to be protected. At Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers, we’re here to help you make sure you get paid. We take up the fight until you receive what you are owed. We help victims of wage theft in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, and across Washington State. We help victims regardless of their immigration status. Labor laws are in place to help everyone.
At the same time, we safeguard your job security and shield you from any retaliation from employers. Our legal team knows the city, state, and U.S. labor laws and will work hard to hold your employer accountable. Don’t wait–contact us today for a free consultation.
