Remote, field and sales · 3 min read
Training and meetings: do they count as working time?
Short answer
Yes, as a general rule. Training must be provided within the workday, unless otherwise agreed because of the nature of the service. Meetings the company calls are work time.
Training
If it is given outside working hours by the company's decision, that time must be taken into account. If the person wants training in something other than their position, it can be outside the workday.
Meetings and events
A meeting at the end of the shift, a convention or a mandatory dinner with clients is time at the company's disposal.
How to record it
As part of the day, with its start and end, wherever they are.
The reform in one minute
The reform has two parts. On March 3, 2026, article 123 of the Constitution was amended to set the 40-hour workweek. On May 1, 2026, the Federal Labor Law was amended, which is where the detail is.
- The maximum working week drops from 48 to 40 hours, two hours per year, between 2027 and 2030.
- Overtime has a weekly cap: it is paid at double time up to the cap and at triple time for up to 4 more hours.
- Each company must electronically record the start and end time of each person's workday.
- Not keeping that record is fined 250 to 5,000 UMA.
- Salary and benefits cannot go down because of the reduction in hours.
What remains pending are the STPS general rules, which will define who the record applies to and what exceptions there will be. They take effect on January 1, 2027.
| Year | Maximum working hours | Double-time overtime | Triple-time overtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 48 h | 9 h | 4 h |
| 2027 | 46 h | 9 h | 4 h |
| 2028 | 44 h | 10 h | 4 h |
| 2029 | 42 h | 11 h | 4 h |
| 2030 | 40 h | 12 h | 4 h |
Decree published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on May 1, 2026, second and fourth transitory provisions, and article 68 of the LFT. Each change applies from January 1.
Common mistakes
- Assuming that someone who is not in the office has no workday.
- Requiring people to come by the office just to record.
- Recording the shift time and not the real time.
- Confusing being reachable with working.
- Over-monitoring instead of recording properly.
What to do now
- List who works outside the office and under which arrangement.
- Define for each arrangement where the workday begins and where it ends.
- Put it in writing and explain it to the team.
- Have each person record from their phone, wherever they are.
- Review late clock-outs and long days every week.
Related terms
Night shift: schedule and maximum length. The night shift is the one worked between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
What is NOM-037 on telework. NOM-037 sets the safety and health conditions for telework.
What is the integrated daily salary (SDI). The integrated daily salary adds to the daily-rate salary the benefits the person receives, such as aguinaldo and vacation premium.
Frequently asked questions
Does the first-day orientation count?
Yes. The person is already at the company's disposal.
Does salary go down if fewer hours are worked?
No. The reform prohibits lowering wages and benefits because of the reduction in working hours.
Is the reform already in force?
Yes. The reform to the Federal Labor Law took effect on May 1, 2026. The reduction in working hours starts on January 1, 2027.
Who monitors compliance?
The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, through inspections.
Where do I find the official text?
In the Official Gazette of the Federation of May 1, 2026 and in the current version of the Federal Labor Law published by the Chamber of Deputies.
Legal basis and sources
- Working hours: articles 58 to 64 of the LFT and second transitory provision of the decree.
- Workday as time at the company's disposal: article 58 of the LFT.
- Telework: articles 330-A to 330-K of the LFT and NOM-037-STPS-2023.
- Decree amending the Federal Labor Law on the reduction of the working week. Official Gazette of the Federation, May 1, 2026.
- Federal Labor Law, current text. Chamber of Deputies.
How we write this content. The Sicheca team writes it from the official text of the law. When something is not yet defined by the authority, we say so. It is general information and does not replace the advice of a lawyer or an accountant.