Answered by the HR Experts
When you close due to inclement weather, nonexempt employees (those who are entitled to overtime) need to be paid only for actual hours worked plus any reporting time pay that might be required by state law.
You have the following options when it comes to if or how you pay nonexempt employees for time they missed:
- Pay them for the time, even though they didn’t work
- Require they take the day off unpaid
- Require they use any available vacation time or paid time off (PTO)
- Allow them to choose between taking unpaid time off or using vacation or PTO
All four options have their merits. We generally recommend option 4, allowing nonexempt employees the choice of using vacation time or PTO.
Different rules apply to exempt employees. Learn more in our severe weather guide in our Mineral HR online tool.
Nicholle Peterson, Benefits Plan Manager summarizes,
“During severe weather closures, employers are only required to pay nonexempt employees for hours actually worked, unless state law says otherwise. However, giving employees the flexibility to use PTO or take the day unpaid shows both compliance and compassion—helping maintain trust and morale through unexpected disruptions.”
To learn more about our online tool, Mineral HR, contact Nicholle at (320) 214-2921.
This Q&A does not constitute legal advice and does not address state or local law.
