Ask the Lawyer received the following question (paraphrased for easier reading and clarity) from a reader on a legal matter that might be of interest to the entire audience.
Q:
If a federal employee is required to conduct Temporary Duty (TDY) over a ten day period and is required to stay on location on Saturday and Sunday, does he receive compensatory time for his time away from home over the weekend? Because airfare is expensive, I am required to stay at the TDY location.
A:
Compensable time off for traveling is authorized when an employee is actually in travel status and is not free to use his time as he pleases. Additionally, in some instances, compensable time off may be granted where an employee is on standby and prohibited from leaving the worksite so that he may respond quickly to a duty which may arise.
From your question, it sounds as though you were free to use your time as you wanted and that you were not on standby. Accordingly, you are not entitled to compensatory time off.
However, you are entitled to per diem for your weekend under 41 C.F.R. §301-11.21.
Bill Bransford is managing partner of Shaw Bransford & Roth PC.
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