Hurricane Irma: 10 challenges for employers

As Florida and the Southeast Coast of the United States begin to recover from Hurricane Irma, employers will face a host of unusual challenges, on top of their basic operational needs and personal concerns. Here are 10 key issues likely to affect employers in Irma’s wake.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as pertinent state laws, non-exempt workers must be paid only for the time they work. As a result, employers need not compensate non-exempt employees who are not working because of a storm. Notably, it does not matter whether the absence is based on the employer’s decision to close a worksite or the employee’s decision to stay home or evacuate.