When nasty weather hits, make sure staffers know these rules

The Farmer’s Almanac and numerous meteorologists are predicting harsh winter weather for most parts of the U.S. There’s always the chance that bad weather-related disaster can directly impact your firm.

If that that happens, there are a number of wage and hour challenges that can crop up.

Make sure your Accounting and Finance pros are on top of those issues. Have them answer the following questions True or False. Then check their responses against the answers below.

1.    If your company stays open during bad weather one day but an exempt employee can’t make it in at all, you can deduct from his or her salary for the absence.

2.    Requiring exempt employees to use vacation time if your office is closed due to bad weather is OK.

3.    If you do require exempt employees to use vacation time, it must be a full vacation day.

Answers to the Quiz

1.    True. According to the Department of Labor’s current regs, employers can make deductions if an employee is absent for a full day for personal reasons. Having transportation difficulties during bad weather counts as a personal reason for being absent.

2.    True. The Fair Labor Standards Act doesn’t require employers to provide vacation time. Employers that offer vacation time can therefore designate when it’s used.

3.    False. Employers don’t have to deduct a full vacation day. Employers are permitted to deducted a half day from workers’ vacation time.

For more details on the Department of Labor’s rules regarding weather emergencies, click here.