McGuire v. Hillsborough County, FL

**Court Rules Fire Inspectors Must Be Paid for Drive Time Between Stations and Job Sites** Fire inspector McGuire sued Hillsborough County, Florida, claiming the county failed to pay him and other inspectors for time spent driving between fire stations and work locations. The inspectors argued this travel time should count as work hours under federal wage laws. The court sided with the fire inspectors, ruling that drive time between fire stations and job sites must be paid as work time under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The judge granted the workers' request for a partial summary judgment, meaning the county clearly violated wage laws. The court also found that Hillsborough County could not claim they acted in "good faith" when they failed to pay for this travel time, which means the workers may be entitled to additional penalty payments. This ruling matters because it clarifies that certain types of work-related travel must be compensated. Workers who travel between different work locations during their shifts - not just commuting to and from home - should generally be paid for that time. If your employer requires you to drive between job sites during work hours, you may be entitled to compensation for that travel time.