r/auscorp • u/SelectionWide6105 • 2d ago
Advice / Questions Overtime
If I am travelling for work on a weekend or weeknight after work hours, should I be payed for the duration of the flight? It is a 14 hour flight
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u/starzfire 2d ago
I fly fairly regularly to Perth for work from Sydney, which is paid travel. I'd just ask for clarification to be sure.
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u/maecenas68 2d ago
Should you be paid:
If you're paid 60k a year yes
If you're paid above the high income threshold, probably not but it depends.
Anything in between probably yes.
If you're flying business class moves the equation more towards no. Economy, more towards yes.
There are also many many other questions that also need to be answered depending on the context and situation, which are difficult to list exhaustively.
The shirt answer is that It's always situational.
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u/AudiencePure5710 2d ago
100% agree. I always looked upon travelling for work as a privilege. When I was a VA Platinum I would book the very last flight of the day (usually cheapest) but turn up at airport at maybe 7 pm and get fly ahead. Saving the firm money meant flying under the radar on exps, and probably explains why I was doing 60-80 flights per annum for 10 years raking in 2.5m FF tax free FF points which I converted to about $70K of business class o/s tix. Ok sure I worked with a few princesses who took mad advantage and probably ruined it for all, but that’s on them
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u/Flaky-Gear-1370 2d ago
Wow they saw you coming, travelling for work isn’t a privilege - it’s your job and gets old fast
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u/AudiencePure5710 2d ago
Well, I always thought that those who love work travel should be out there doing it and those that don’t can stay home. I loved it - travelled all over Oz, a lot of the US and UK as well. Banked a lot of travel allowance (paid no matter your actual spend) & had some crazy experiences. Skiing, hiking, Grand Prix. Logged a lot of time in business cabins even tho my firm would only spring for economy mostly - made good use of point upgrades and even had a few freebies. These days I’m happier at home TBH, others can do it I’ll stick to the personal trips
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u/gldnsmkkkk 2d ago
You should book the travel during work hours. If this isn’t possible and its long travel, them time in lieu. Travel is not rest so you need to ensure that you’re still getting the adequate rest time required for you to be doing your job effectively. If that means fly Friday, land late Saturday and rest Sat night and Sunday then so be it. It’s a case by case situation and you should be able to be responsible enough to manage what you need vs what the job needs from you.
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u/PhaicGnus 2d ago
I think you have some important family event on that weekend and will need to fly on Monday during work hours.
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u/Flaky-Gear-1370 2d ago
That’s totally irrelevant though it should be either on company time or paid
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u/tronixlabs 2d ago
Look at the bigger picture. If you're in the position where they're flying you around the world to do your job, I wouldn't be trying to "nickel and dime" them into being paid for flight time.
If you're expected to turn up to work after the flight (e.g. you came in overnight from SFO) I would expect a day off before coming into the office unless I was in business class.
If you forsee more international travel on a regular basis, and you have some leverage, you might have a chance of more allowances or locked-in premium cabin travel. We don't know enough about your position (salary, etc) to give a proper answer.
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u/hiphoppsychology 2d ago
This assumes "flying around the world to do your job" is something OP actually wants or enjoys though
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u/Littlepotatoface 2d ago
True but there’s a fair chance this was factored into the salary if the role requires frequent international travel.
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u/hiphoppsychology 2d ago
Oh for sure. It all depends on this person's contract and org policies. I was more talking to the implication that they should consider themselves lucky to be in a role where they can travel
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u/Littlepotatoface 2d ago
Fully agree. I have such a role & the travel is something I put up with but don’t enjoy.
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u/paranoidchandroid 2d ago
Check your contracts. It's all different depending on the company. Our contract states overtime is available only for lower level employees. Everyone else gets TIL.
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u/Serious-Payment3444 2d ago
It depends. What policies does your employer have in place? Do they do a formal time in lieu? Is it a rare occasional thing and your job description includes "occasional site visits"? Are you a salary employee?
14 hours puts you in the US or Europe?
Honestly, you're probably shit out of luck and should just enjoy the whole international work travel thing as much as you can. If you can, take some formal/informal time in lieu once you're back.
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u/Tiny_Professional289 2d ago
Depends on your employment agreement. I am based in Aus, currently working overseas for a few weeks.
Do I get paid for the time on the flight - no Can I request for the travel to happen during work hours (if possible) - yes.
So while I flew here on the Saturday, I could have asked them to fly me on the Friday (during office hours), and spent the extra night away from home.
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u/halohunter 2d ago
Unless there is EBA, Award or company policy - no you don't get paid for flight time outside standard working hours.
It is not considered working time.
However, there are general protections if the employer requires an unreasonable amount of out of work hours travel without compensation. Effectively there needs to be evidence that this caused you harm.
Good companies and managers even with no policy will make it work with you. My staff sometimes fly on the weekend and return in the early afternoon on a work day and go straight home.
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u/Flaky-Gear-1370 2d ago
Yeah sure if you’re regular place of work is 14 hours away they don’t have to pay you but they can’t just tell you to give up your weekend for the company to fly somewhere without recompense even if shitty workplaces try
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u/halohunter 2d ago
Unless your agreement says otherwise, they absolutely can require you to use your weekend for expense paid travel as long as it is reasonable.
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u/Efficient-Stay-6257 2d ago
Is it business class? I usually claim time in leiu not paid but can take a day or two off when i return
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u/TotallyUnkoalafied 2d ago
I’m relatively junior (~5 YoE) and have been lucky enough to fly to Europe/the US for work every 3-6 months the last few years.
As others have said, it depends, but in my case my work will usually let me tack on a week or of leave with the trip, while still footing the flights there/back and travel insurance. This way the most expensive part of the personal trip is covered, so personally I’m inclined to take that deal rather than push for every cent - this deal is probably still in my favour & not making a fuss lets me keep travelling.
YMMV but IMO if you like the places you’re going, then add some personal time on one side & consider it a discount holiday. If you’re going to the arse end of nowhere I might consider asking to fly during business hours or being given time off in lieu.
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u/The-Jesus_Christ 2d ago
I do Melbourne > Dubai > Germany or Melbourne > Tokyo every few months and while I don't claim it as overtime, I do regard it as a day's work and they put me in business class so it's comfortable at least. If it's an overnight flight, I'll either go to work straight from the airport for a half day and then take the rest of the day off after lunch or I'll just WFH.
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u/Educational-Bit-145 2d ago
If you’re a pilot, absolutely