Under Alberta law, your normal daily commute to and from work is unpaid. However, you are legally required to be paid your regular wage for any travel time spent driving between different worksites or running errands for your employer during your shift.
When you spend hours behind the wheel for your job, you might start wondering if that time should be showing up on your paycheque. Many Albertans in trades, healthcare, and sales spend a significant portion of their day commuting to various job sites. Unfortunately, the lines between personal commuting and actual work travel are often blurred by employers trying to save on payroll costs.
Understanding whether you are legally required to be paid for travel time in Alberta comes down to how the province defines “work hours.” Whether you are a plumber navigating the busy streets of Calgary, a home-care nurse in Edmonton, or an oilfield worker driving to a remote camp past Grande Prairie, your time is valuable. This guide will clarify when the clock legally starts ticking and what you can do if your employer refuses to pay you for your travel. 📍
Step-by-Step Process in Alberta
If you believe your employer owes you money for travel time, you need to assess your daily routine against the rules outlined in the Alberta Employment Standards Code. Here is the step-by-step process to determine your rights and claim your unpaid wages.
Step 1: Identify Your Normal Commute
First, recognize that time spent travelling from your home to your primary workplace (and back home at the end of the day) is considered your normal commute. Under Alberta law, this time is unpaid. It does not matter if you hit massive traffic on the Deerfoot Trail in Calgary; your employer is not legally required to pay you until you actually arrive at the job site.
Step 2: Track Travel Between Worksites
If your job requires you to travel after you have already arrived at work, that is a different story. For example, if you report to an office in the morning and then drive to a client’s site, the travel time between the office and the client must be paid as regular work hours. You should keep a detailed logbook of these trips, including the start and end times. 📝
Step 3: Account for Out-of-Town Travel
When your employer sends you out of town on business, the rules can get slightly complex. Generally, the time spent travelling to a different city during your normal working hours is paid. However, if the travel happens outside your normal hours, or if you are simply driving to a hotel, employers will often deduct your “regular commute time” from the total travel time. Knowing these nuances is where consulting an employment lawyer helps.
Step 4: Request Payment for Errand Runs
If your boss asks you to pick up supplies at a hardware store on your way to work, your workday legally begins the moment you arrive at the store. The time spent shopping and driving from the store to the main workplace must be compensated. If your employer denies this, submit your time logs formally to HR, and if necessary, escalate to Alberta Employment Standards to claim the unpaid travel wages.
How Much Does it Cost in Alberta?
Ensuring you are paid for your work travel should not put you in debt. Here is what you can expect in terms of costs if you need to enforce your legal rights in CAD.
- Filing an Employment Standards Claim: Submitting a formal complaint for unpaid travel wages with the provincial government is $0 CAD.
- Lawyer Document Review: Hiring an employment lawyer to review your contract and company travel policies usually costs between $200 and $400 CAD.
- Suing for Unpaid Wages: If you quit or are fired and sue for years of unpaid travel time, legal fees for a lawsuit at the Court of King’s Bench can range from $3,000 to $7,000+ CAD.
| Type of Travel | Is it Legally Paid in Alberta? | Common Example |
| Home to regular workplace | Unpaid | Morning commute to the office |
| Workplace to a client site | Paid | Driving to fix a customer’s sink |
| Running employer errands | Paid | Picking up coffee/supplies for the boss |
| Client site to home (end of day) | Usually Unpaid | Driving straight home after the last job |
How Long Does the Process Take?
To avoid disputes, you should submit your travel time logs on every timesheet. Most employers will process approved travel time on your regular bi-weekly paycheque.
If a dispute arises and your employer refuses to pay, resolving the issue internally might take 2 to 4 weeks of back-and-forth emails. If you must rely on Alberta Employment Standards to investigate and recover the unpaid travel wages, the government process typically takes 3 to 6 months from the date you file your complaint. 🕐
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I get paid if I have to drive a company vehicle home?
Generally, no. If you are simply taking a company vehicle home at the end of the day for your own convenience, it is considered a regular commute and is unpaid. It is only paid if you are actively transporting materials or other staff at the employer’s direction.
Are travel hours counted toward overtime in Alberta?
Yes. Any legally required paid travel time counts as actual hours worked. If your travel pushes your daily hours past 8 or your weekly hours past 44, you are entitled to overtime pay at 1.5 times your regular rate.
Does my employer have to pay for my gas and mileage?
Alberta employment law does not legally force employers to reimburse gas or mileage for using your personal vehicle. However, any expenses you incur cannot drop your total earnings below the provincial minimum wage.
What if my travel time is cancelled at the last minute?
If you arrive at work or a client site and your shift is immediately cancelled, Alberta’s “3-hour minimum rule” applies. Your employer must pay you for at least 3 hours of work at the minimum wage rate, even if you just drove there and went home.
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