Navigating Inclement Weather Closures and Employee Pay
Industry Insights | The Workplace Advisors | October 10, 2024
Inclement weather can lead to unexpected office closures, and as an employer, it's important to have a clear policy in place. Understanding how to handle pay for both exempt and non-exempt employees during these closures can help you maintain compliance and fairness. Below, we break down the key considerations for managing pay when bad weather forces your office to close.
Question: What is the policy on closing the office due to bad weather? Do I have to pay my employees if we have to close the office?
Answer: How you set up your inclement weather policy is a matter of preference and should be spelled out in your employee handbook. Generally, non-exempt, hourly workers do not need to be paid for the time not worked although some states require some reporting pay if they are sent home from work before the end of their shift.
Should you wish to pay them since it is a circumstance beyond their control, you can certainly do so. For exempt, salaried employees, if you close the office, you cannot dock their pay for time not worked if they worked any time during the workweek, but you may be able to request that they take paid time off. If they do not have any leave remaining, you must pay them for the time off. However, if an exempt employee does not work at all during the workweek, you may not need to pay them. Under either circumstance, if the employee is working from home, he or she must be paid.
We understand that navigating inclement weather closures and determining appropriate pay can be confusing for employers. If you need further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us for guidance on how to ensure compliance and support for your team.