Is Your Business Prepared For A Twister?
by Susan Martin
The sounds of tornado sirens and radio, TV and smartphone warnings are familiar harbingers of spring and summer in St. Louis.
Common Employer Practices
According to a 2014 survey of 169 metro St. Louis and central Illinois businesses conducted by AAIM Employers’ Association, 82% of the surveyed companies have procedures in place for tornadoes or severe weather warnings. In addition, 92% provide employees with directions – in advance – to “safe places” within their workplaces.
Survey results also indicate that during a weather warning, responsibility for the decision of when workers should return to their workstations (or whether they should leave work early) primarily rests on the shoulders of the employer (59%). Thirty-one percent of businesses indicate the decision is jointly made with employees. The remaining survey respondents either haven’t yet addressed the issue (8%) or place the decision-making responsibility solely upon the employee (2%).
Issues to Consider
Secondary to employee safety can be issues of pay. By law, nonexempt (hourly) workers do not have to be paid for time away from work (e.g., if they leave work early). However, deductions cannot be made from the pay of exempt (salaried) employees who work any portion of the week. If the facility remains open and an exempt employee is absent for one or more full days for personal reasons (including transportation difficulties), the employee may be required to use paid time off or deductions may be made from the employee’s salary.
Susan Martin (susan.martin@aaimea.org) is member answer center coordinator for AAIM Employers’ Association, which helps Missouri and Illinois companies manage their people and processes.