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.