For many employees, such as traveling salespeople, which rule describes that the time and place for performing work duties may be at the employer's discretion?

• A. Special Mission Exception
• B. Coming and going rule
• C. Personal risk
• D. Commercial traveler rule

Answer: (D)

Time and place of work being at the employer’s discretion is described by the commercial traveler rule. This rule recognizes that for employees who travel as part of their job, such as traveling salespeople, the employer controls when and where work duties are performed, and the travel itself is considered part of the job. Because of that control, injuries that occur during work-related travel can be treated as work-related, even though the employee is away from the main office. This differs from the coming and going rule, which normally excludes injuries from ordinary commuting, and from the special mission exception, which applies only to specific, defined assignments beyond routine travel, and from the personal risk doctrine, which focuses on risks unrelated to employment.