find out your states overtime laws and those for where you're going.. pay and wage standards must be in accordance with the highest of the two..
State Minimum Wage and Overtime Laws - FindLaw
michigan
[FONT="] Most hourly employees in the Michigan are entitled to a special overtime pay rate for any hours worked over a total of 40 in a single work week (defined as any seven consecutive work days by the Fair Labor Standards Act).[/FONT]
Ohio-
[FONT="]Ohio follows the Federal law. Overtime pay of time and a half is required for all non-exempt Ohio employees for hours worked over 40 during a workweek. [/FONT]
Cant speak to your states laws, but in California it is within the employers right to make you report to work at any location they see fit for a regular workday, including out of state, so long as travel expenses are covered in full as well as lodging.
Meals are not covered, you gotta eat no matter where you are.
Travel time ost everywhere is during regular work hours.. Travel outside those hours may be overtime.
We used to send crews to the east coast weekly to wrap hotel shuttles, and we paid a sizeable bonus (usually $300) at the end of each trip for the hassles.
We covered all costs for the trip and crews were required to bring back all receipts.
the per diem schedule mentioned earlier is for all your lodging expenses.. if your boss is paying its no help..
given the time of year, i dont see how you can get 10 hours a day of work in with sunlight.. but if so, you'll want overtime on anything over 8hrs daily and over 40 hours total - I pay double time for sat sun or crews come home for the weekend.
Pre plan your work schedule with your boss in writing. Include weather and client caused delays, these happen more than you can think.. I once lost two entire days to thunderstorms in chicago and three days to a client in miami not making the vehicles available. I paid my crew to sit those out.
I also paid overtime for ALL time to catch up from those delays, and of course anything over 40hrs/week on the job. We worked 10 hr days, 8 was straight pay, 2 was OT, so friday was full OT. This is important, you dont want to make your regular workday a 10 hour day, it might stick when you get home.. if the job goes back-to-back over a weekend you'll also want double time for SAT and SUN.. that is outside normal work requirements.
Since your boss is paying all the costs to go, the labor dept sees that as working at the shop.. (the boss doesnt pay for your dinner and breakfast now, so he doesnt have to when youre out of town) ...He has to pay for out of pocket work related expenses though .
Id recommend you ask for a bonus.. its a nice reward for being away from family..
PRO TIPS:
- get a free time tracker app like Toggl (toggl.com) for your phone, and use it to track the tasks on the job for him. this will prevent any arguments over you not clocking in. it will also give him detailed time records for bidding future work. this can help you if he decides to not pay for overtime and you gotta get mean about it.
- take extra materials
- budget 20% extra time for setup, weather, and local issues.
- If you're driving there and taking rigging with you, then a way to lock that up at the hotel is needed.
- take your tools inside at night - ripping off work trucks is de facto standard at motels everywhere..
- If going by plane - pre-ship the decals and tools to the client to avoid the hassle at the airport with the large boxes. Airlines will ruin your graphics and steal your tools if given the chance. and you cant ship things like alcohol and chemicals by air.
- Confirm the client has the graphics before departing, and have staff back at your shop to handle any losses or remakes you might need.
good luck and have fun.. we used to ask the hotel staff where to find the best little restaurants.. it was a reward for a long day, and beat KFC and McD's.
