Are Employers Required to Pay for Training?

Are employers required to pay for training? The answer to that question is not a simple “yes” or “no” because many mitigating factors may apply.

What If I Must Undergo Training Prior to Starting a Job?

In some cases, you are hired for a position but must undergo training before going “live” at the company. In such cases, you should be paid for the time spent training. For example, if you are hired by a call center that requires you to attend training from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, for six weeks before you are placed on real calls with real customers, you should be paid for your time spent in training.

If I Want a Promotion That Requires I Have a Bachelor’s Degree, Does My Employer Have to Pay for My Time Spent in College Classes?

Enrollment in college courses, even if for the end goal of receiving a promotion at work, is voluntary and under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), you do not have to be compensated for time spent on college courses.

If I Must Attend a Training Activity, Are Employers Required to Pay for Training?

The FLSA says, “Attendance at lectures, meetings, training programs and similar activities need not be counted as work time only if four criteria are met, namely: it is outside normal hours, it is voluntary, not job related, and no other work is concurrently performed.”

Basically, the employer must pay employees who are required to attend activities or programs as part of their job during a given workweek.

Do Different States Have Different Laws Governing the Payment of Training Time?

Some states, such as California, do have specific laws related to employers required to pay for training.

In California, an employer is required to pay for any costs that accompany work-related, mandatory training.

What if I am in a Union?

Union collective bargaining agreements most often spell out the circumstances that require payment for training programs.

What if I Want to Become the Point Person in a Catastrophe and I Sign up for a CPR Class? Is That Time or Expense Covered by My Employer?

According to FLSA, your employer does not have to reimburse your expense or your time spent after or before work hours to complete a voluntary course or training program.

What If My Training is in a Different City That Takes Me a Long Way from Home?

According to the Department of Labor, “The time spent in traveling to and returning from the other city is work time, except that the employer may deduct/not count that time the employee would normally spend commuting to the regular work site.”

What If a Voluntary Training is Held During My Lunch Hour?

If a company schedules a “voluntary” training during your lunch hour, but you feel the training is integral to you performing well on the job, you should approach your employer about being paid for the hour you spend in that training.

There have been many unpaid job training class action lawsuits in the past, including companies like CVS and Vivant.

Join a Free Unpaid Training Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you were required to attend any job training and were not compensated for the time, you may qualify to join this unpaid wages class action lawsuit investigation.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.