From the HR Support Center: If business is slow, can we send employees home early?

From the HR Support Center: If business is slow, can we send employees home early?

Yes, you can send employees home early due to a lack of work. Exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (not entitled to overtime) would need to be paid their entire salary for the day. Non-exempt employees (those eligible for overtime) would generally only need to be paid for actual hours worked.

However, if you operate in California, Connecticut, D.C., New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Oregon (minors only), or Rhode Island, you should check your state’s reporting time pay requirements. Employees may be entitled to reporting time pay for a certain number of hours even if they just showed up and did no actual work. This is intended to lessen wage loss that is not the fault of the employee, as well as encourage employers to not over-schedule, since it causes employees to waste time and resources getting to work.

The HR Support Center is a service offered to Payroll Partners clients, and provides access to exclusive, industry-leading HR tools and resources, for just a few dollars a month. From employee handbooks, job descriptions and other commonly used HR documents, to up-to-the-minute law alerts, easy-to-understand state and federal law libraries, and unique training videos, the HR Support Center will help you effectively manage your HR compliance and employee relations needs.

Legal Disclaimer: Payroll Partners and/or the HR Support Center are not engaged in the practice of law. The content in this email should not be construed as legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you have legal questions concerning your situation or the information you have obtained, you should consult with a licensed attorney. Payroll Partners and/or the HR Support Center cannot be held legally accountable for actions related to this article.