CHEATSHEET: How to pay employees for Daylight Savings Time work

 

This Sunday, Daylight Savings Time begins, as we push the clocks forward one hour at 2:00 AM on March 10, 2013.

Did someone say Clocks?

How does the time change affect the manner in which you pay hourly non-exempt employees who work the graveyard shift? I’ll let the Department of Labor explain:

On the Sunday that Daylight Savings Time starts at 2:00 a.m., the employee does not work the hour from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. because at 2:00 a.m. all of the clocks are turned forward to 3:00 a.m. Thus, on this day the employee only worked 7 hours, even though the schedule was for 8 hours.

The FLSA requires that employees must be credited with all of the hours actually worked. Therefore, if the employee is in a work situation similar to that described in the above example, he or she worked 7 hours on the day that Daylight Savings Time begins….

Of course, when we get to November and set the clocks back, remember that employees working the graveyard shift must be paid an extra hour.

But, until then, enjoy the sun.

P.S. – If you are going to be in Washington, DC on Monday for SHRM’s 2013 Employment Law and Legislative Conference, please drop me a line. I’d like to meet you.

First drink is on you. After all, it’s the least you could do.