Do employers have to pay for lodging?

by **byron92** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:46 am

My husband works for a construction company. Before the economic slowdown they always received lodging and money for food. Now the employer states that he has to pay for it himself. With him being gone for 5 days a week it can add up to $400 a week which is over half of what he brings home each week. Can they do this? We are in Wisconsin if that helps. I looked into the labor laws and can't find anything and I tried to call the labor office but they are closed.

Also, there are other people who are staying out of town on another job and they are getting provided with lodging and meals. But the people on my husbands job are not. They were told they did not bid the job for that. They said they will pull a tool trailer down for the guys to sleep in. But there would be no bathrooms, no beds, no running water, nothing. They would have to sleep on the floor and find somewhere to shower for the week.

Is this legal?

by **lalla3** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:49 am

I know of no law that would prohibit an employer to not provide lodging because the employee could turn down the job. If the employee was a member of a union the contract would require the employee to provide lodging, pay, mileage, meals, night differential, etc. But I am guessing that your husband is not a member of a union.

by **delrico** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:52 am

Do you like him to be employed or UNemployed?! it's all up to you!

by **reuben29** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:08 am

This usually comes under company policy not law. So yes it is legal for them to not pay for lodging. Also I do not think he can get unemployment if the job is more than 80 miles if he quits. The construction site is where his job is not the business office.

by **oded** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:20 am

There is no law requiring an employer to provide lodging. There is probably a law that would not allow the trailer to qualify as lodging.
80 miles is NOT a 3 hour drive, but 3 hours is a SHORT commute in some parts of the country.
If your husband shares a hotel room with a coworker, he can get a cheap hotel for under $150 per person per week. I can eat for under $50/week. That puts the cost closer to $200/week than $400.

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