Working at home on the computer

RACK UM

We are starting to have a lot of our mandatory inservices, benefits enrollment, etc on the internet, that the employees can access from home if desired. As an example, we have mandatory items for Joint Commission which consist of reading through written material, then tested, then automatically recorded. If they employee wants to do this at home, would we be required to pay them for this time, since it is mandatory education? There are computers available to the employees at work, on their unit, in the library and cafeteria, however it could be more convenient for them to utilize their home computer.

dhnyct

Mandatory education should be compensated. However, there should also be some method in place to regulate the compensable time.

Would it be okay to determine the feasible time it should take to complete the program and process pay for those hours upon proof of completion?

System

The FLSA doesn't care where they work. If they're nonexempt and you require (or allow) them to work, you have to pay them.

James Sokolowski
Senior Editor
M. Lee Smith Publishers