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No, you're working. You may not be doing whatever it is your specialty is, but you are NOT on your own time. You are not free to:
-Put up your feet in your own home
-Go to your kid's weekend sport meet
-See your friends
-See your family
-Get caught up on lawn/garden work
-Go to events in your own town
-Give a spouse a break in driving the kids around
-Check up on elderly parent
-Pursue a hobby or passion that can't be fit into a suitcase (such as playing an instrument or wood-working)
-Enjoy your own home-cooking, or that of your spouse or family
-Dressing in attire that you might like to change into when not on the job (if you're hanging out in the hotel, you're not going to be walking around in your Nirvana t-shirt in case you run into the boss)
You are being prevented from doing the things ordinary humans do with their free time. Unless your cup of tea is really just being in a strange city without loved ones every weekend.
I don't live in this kind of world. But if you are being prevented from doing what you (and your family) want to do in your own domain away from work, you ABSOLUTELY should be compensated for that.
If you are being prevented from using your free time as you see fit, that is work.
I get the point you're trying to make, but no, you should not be compensated for that beyond your salary. You are free to do whatever you want, in the city/town you're staying in. If you're at home you can't see new things, explore new places.
It sounds like the #1 thing you're concerned with in your personal life is family. Why on earth would you take a job with extensive travel if that's the case? Don't claim you should be paid to hang out in another city simply because you value family more, and didn't take that into account when applying for the job.
"If you are being prevented from using your free time as you see fit, that is work" That's not true. Being free to do anything you want in a strange city or town is NOT work. If you have family commitments as you're describing, I would hope you wouldn't take a job that requires that much travel. Companies are up front about the amount of travel required before anyone applies.
Let's take the other side of the coin to your arguments. Why would you want to stay in the same town every weekend when a company would pay for travel and lodging for you to see new places, experience new cities? I've flown to other countries on a weekend simply to get new experiences for fun. The idea of a company paying for the hotel/food is extremely attractive to some people.
Why would you not wear whatever tshirt you want when traveling for work? Why would you not want your boss to see you in a nirvana tshirt?
I'm not sure why this thread is going back and forth. If you're salaried, the law is clear. You're not compensated for your leisure time on the weekends.
I'm not sure why this thread is going back and forth. If you're salaried, the law is clear. You're not compensated for your leisure time on the weekends.
Is it leisure time if you are still onsite working remotely?
The fact that the company already conceded to paying partial days for those days shows they know he is still working.
If the OP is working, they should absolutely get paid for that time (assuming they aren't salaried and exempt). But the OP states "I'm not actually working". So it's clear. There's no need for the employer to pay.
wheelsup, are you a Union man? I ask cause you vehemently argue the point even though US labor laws do not support your argument.
Whether it right or wrong, ethical or not, the OP has been given correct answers and it's not yours.
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