Define: Travelling Time
Travelling Time is the period a worker spends moving between locations for work purposes, such as commuting between job sites or traveling to client meetings. Contracts define whether this time counts as working time, whether it is paid, and how it is calculated, which affects wages, overtime, and compliance with the law governing the contract.
Legal accuracy standard set & glossary spot-checked by Imad Mohammed Nazar , Skadden-trained M&A lawyer, Legal Engineer at GenieAI
What Travelling Time Means in a Contract
Travelling Time refers to the time an employee, contractor, or worker spends moving from one place to another in connection with their duties. This might include commuting from home to a fixed workplace, moving between multiple job sites during a single day, or traveling to attend meetings, training, or client appointments. In a contract, the term is not just descriptive, it is operative: it determines whether that time is treated as compensable working time, how it interacts with rest break rules, and how it should be recorded and reimbursed.
Because the practical impact of Travelling Time can be significant, especially for roles that involve frequent movement such as construction, transport, or field service work, contracts often carve out a specific clause or schedule to address it directly rather than leaving it to implication. Without clear contractual language, disputes can arise over whether an employee is.
Relevant Circumstances
- Employee commuting to different office locations.
- Consultant performing on-site visits.
- Independent contractor traveling for providing services.