Recordkeeping During Natural Disasters

Did you know the FLSA’s recordkeeping requirements still apply during natural disasters? It’s true.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not provide any relief from its record-keeping requirements due to weather-related emergencies. Thus, employers must still maintain accurate records of time worked. As nonexempt employees are paid for work performed, any work done from home or away from the business premises during a natural disaster must be compensated. Employers need to anticipate nonexempt workers’ failure to record hours worked remotely during a weather emergency. If employees don’t have access to time sheets or electronic time-keeping systems during or immediately after a natural disaster, employers should instruct employees to manually record the times they have worked. Best practice is to have nonexempt employees provide the employer with a record of time worked in writing on the day the work is performed. It is important to try to create the most accurate time records possible. Before disaster strikes, employers should have a comprehensive disaster plan in place that dictates how the employer will contact employees, where employees will work, how employees’ hours will be tracked and how employees will be paid. Learn more in this SHRM article.