Thursday, January 14, 2016

Inclement Weather Policies

It's winter in Michigan and clients are wondering what is the best way to handle inclement weather. For those of you who live in an area where severe weather can impact your work, you should consider having some type of inclement weather policy.  An online search will find numerous sample policies you can use.  But a few key points should be considered when drafting a policy:

·         How will you handle payroll issues after closing the office due to inclement weather?  Remember, exempt employees cannot have salaries docked for “absences occasioned by the employer.”  Non-exempt employees, on the other hand, do not have to be paid for hours they are not working.  The policy should address whether non-exempt employees will be paid for the day or can use vacation/PTO while the office is closed.  Some employers pay non-exempt employees a fixed number of paid inclement weather days.
·         Who has authority to decide that the office should be closed?  Will the policy list the criteria for a decision on closure (i.e. snow emergency declared, temperatures below a certain point, x inches of snow, etc)?
·         How will employees be informed that the office is closed?
·         Are there certain essential personnel who are expected to be at the office even if it closes?
·         Can employees work remotely when the office is closed due to weather?  If so, how will you track hours worked for non-exempt employees?
·         Is there a plan for inclement weather that arises during the workday, including how non-exempt employees will be paid?  Many employees can become resentful if they have to drive through a blizzard only to find out the office is closing early and they will only be paid for part of the day.

If you have questions about how to handle inclement weather issues, please feel free to contact me.