Do You Get Paid for Travel Time? Although you do not usually have to pay an employee for time spent commuting, you must pay for travel time if that time is part of the job. For example, if your employees are required to go out on service calls, the time spent traveling to and from the customers must be paid.

In the corporate world of 2026, companies absolutely pay for business travel, though the methods of reimbursement have become more technologically integrated. Generally, if a trip is for a legitimate business purpose—such as client meetings, conferences, or site inspections—the employer covers all "ordinary and necessary" expenses. This typically includes airfare, lodging, ground transportation (taxis or ride-shares), and a per diem for meals. Many larger corporations provide employees with a corporate credit card to handle these costs directly. For smaller firms, employees often pay out-of-pocket and submit digital receipts through platforms like Concur or Expensify to be reimbursed in their next paycheck. It is important to note that most companies have a "Travel Policy" that dictates limits; for example, you may be required to fly Economy for domestic trips or stay within a specific nightly hotel rate. While the company pays for the travel, the "loyalty points" and "frequent flyer miles" earned during these trips almost always belong to the individual employee, which is widely considered one of the primary perks of a high-travel professional role.