Enduring extended trips during work duties are exempt from being deemed as labor hours.
Hear this loud and clear, mate! Typically, employers ain't on the hook for payin' yer when you're just strollin' about their premises, even if they're givin' you instructions as you go. That's according to Hessian Labour Court (Ref: 10 SLa 564/24).
Take, for instance, a bloke workin' as an airport driver. The judge said he didn't get paid for the time he spent fellow-travelin' from his first checkpoint to the building where the time recording terminal resided. The judge also pointed out that changin' clothes at home, as per a works agreement, ain't no remunerable business neither.
In another case, a chap who was employed as a driver for an airport operator had sued his employer, claimin' that he should be paid for his travel time before his work officially started – that is, from when he entered the security area till he clocked in at the terminal. But the judge shut that down real quick. The reason? His actual work only kicked off after the time got jotted down.
Even if the driver had to undergo some personal checks, wear a warning vest, and hop on an employer-provided shuttle bus, it still didn't count as remunerable work time. This law applies unless there's a specific agreement or union rule spellin' out otherwise. The court referred to the Federal Labour Court's (BAG, ruling on 19.09.2012 - 5 AZR 678/11) case law when clarifyin' that internal travel times only become workin' time when they're a hassle for the employee or when there's a special union agreement in place. But in most normal situations, yerinternal travel time ain't gonna be payin' time, so just remember that!
In light of the Hessian Labour Court ruling (Ref: 10 SLa 564/24), a driver employed at an airport may not be entitled to payment for travel time before officially starting work, even if personal checks, wearing a warning vest, and taking a shuttle bus are required, unless there's a specific agreement or union rule specifying otherwise.
Moreover, changing clothes at home, as per a works agreement, is not considered remunerable business activity.
