Benefits of Revisiting Employee Wage and Hour Policies

The pandemic has brought on many changes in the workplace. So, it is a good time to revisit wage and hour policies during these uncertain times.

Running a business can be tough, especially during these tough times. However, a business owner needs to always be in the know and keep up with new policies. They also need to adapt and make any changes needed to keep up with the new circumstances. Remember, always look to better your business and keep the best interest of your employees in mind. 

Since telecommuting has become more popular, more employees working from home means policies need to be updated. These policies need to describe these changes and set new telecommute policies and boundaries in place. 

Keeping Track of Time Worked

Even though employees are working at home, punch clocks and other protocols need to be enforced. It can be difficult to manage hours worked, any overtime worked, and any breaks taken. Luckily, you can easily amend these policies to better fit the current telecommunication circumstances.

How can you achieve this? By setting schedules, using timekeeping management, and establishing clear work hours. The key is to be consistent with these new policies and communicating them to your employees. 

Make sure to set clear expectations of responsiveness and availability to avoid any conflicts. Changes may need to be made as things continue, but you can still roll with the punches for an efficient workday. 

Help Employees Avoid Distractions

It may seem strict, but setting schedules and making sure that work is actually done on the clock and not off the clock, might be needed for some employees. 

Employees face many additional distractions when working from home. This can make it difficult for them to manage their time. Help them eliminate distractions and stay on track by sticking to a strict schedule. 

To help keep track of things even more, always require approval for overtime work since this is very hard to manage remotely, especially for hourly workers. 

Encourage Documentation

Of course, you want to encourage employees to document everything accurately. This is when you might want to invest in management software to help keep track of projects, deadlines, and hours… all in one place. Have questions regarding current labor laws or employee wage policies? The team at Thunderbird Law can help point you in the right direction.