How are Employers Behaving in FL?

[JenBayles]

Having been through a couple of canes myself, I am somewhat curious as to how employers in S. FL are handling yet another storm with the inherent loss of time worked and productivity. Every company I've ever worked for has insisted weather disasters are a vacation - as if we had a choice to battle hurricane force winds to get to the office. If you're out of vacation time; you're screwed. Does the same mindset exist in FL?

[alicia-w]

I've only worked for the federal government and it's an excused absence for us. Considered a business expense if we have to evacuate, i.e. put expenses on our govt credit card and file a expense report when given the safe-to-return word.

[TPACane04]

Hi Jen....good questions you pose.

my employer has given any of us the flexibility to take time off to deal with storm issues, without it being considered "vacation or PTO"

that said, I know many employers in TB area who make employees take actual vacation time for time missed due to storm.

And in one extreme example, a local man got fired for not showing up to work during Charley....as he was considered "essential personnel" and the employer took it as a no call no show deal..pretty sick if you ask me.

I think employers are now worried about mindsets, lack of productivity, fear, and will be perhaps a bit more compassionate with Ivan on the horizon.

[ObsessedMiami]

Interesting thing was that during Frances, Miami-Dade county made a big deal about potentially prosecuting employers who made employees work during a hurricane warning. They supposedly had the States Attorney "reviewing" the law to see what measures the Mayor could take in those cases, but you never heard anything more about it. I suspect that they were trying to scare employers into some liability issues that they may be exposed to by forcing workers to work.

[tronbunny]

True confessions time...
I cannot be productive at the office at this time at all.
Too much riding on it in personal terms.
I'm nesting.
And not as much concerned about the pay as the general welfare of my family.
I am grateful for the job, because it helps me pay for the roof over my head...
But I know my employer cannot pay to replace that roof soon enough (if at all) after a destructive storm.

Sorry, boss.

[wayoutfront]

Every company I've ever worked for has insisted weather disasters are a vacation - as if we had a choice to battle hurricane force winds to get to the office. If you're out of vacation time; you're screwed

I am confused????

are you expecting to get paid for time you have not worked?

[feederband]

Im in the grocery buisness. And there is alot of money to be made.But are employer has made it clear that the employees will come first . What ever they have to do let them do it . We will deal with what we can.

[melhow]

Business as usual. You know, tomorrow is an in-service day for teachers here, so schools are closed. A bunch of folks that I work with are still out of power, will have their kids will be out of school in a dark house, and now they have to think about planning for Ivan too. I have no children, and I have power, so I have no complaints (other than a big old hurricane pointed at us) but I feel SO BAD for some of my co-workers.

[melhow]

Business as usual. You know, tomorrow is an in-service day for teachers here, so schools are closed. A bunch of folks that I work with are still out of power, will have their kids will be out of school in a dark house, and now they have to think about planning for Ivan too. I have no children, and I have power, so I have no complaints (other than a big old hurricane pointed at us) but I feel SO BAD for some of my co-workers.

[JenBayles]

I am confused????

are you expecting to get paid for time you have not worked?[/quote]

Not necessarily. Some employers do make an effort to financially assist their employees for a day or 2 missed due to a legitimate disaster, but certainly not all. Some of them simply can't. I commend the ones who try to help because they certainly are not obligated to. During Houston's flooding from TS Allison, city and county employees who could not work because the gov't buildings were flooded could not get paid even if the local officials wanted to do so. The Texas legislature has a rule that if gov't employees don't work for whatever reason, they use vacation time or take no pay. Fair enough - it's the law.

I guess what riles me is not even so much the loss of pay, but the attitude some (not all), businesses have of holding a day's pay in front of people like a carrot. "Either put your life in danger in service to me, or face losing said pay or ultimately your job. Oh, and that house of yours that got blown away? Well, you can worry about finding new housing AFTER you've completed your 40 hours." It's never explicity spoken, but tacitly understood.

[Canelaw99]

Interesting thing was that during Frances, Miami-Dade county made a big deal about potentially prosecuting employers who made employees work during a hurricane warning. They supposedly had the States Attorney "reviewing" the law to see what measures the Mayor could take in those cases, but you never heard anything more about it. I suspect that they were trying to scare employers into some liability issues that they may be exposed to by forcing workers to work.

That whole thing was due to some hoteliers on Miami Beach (a mandatory evac zone) trying to get their employees to go back to work so the hotel could make some money. The employees called the local news helplines and asked if they should because it's an evacuation zone, etc. The news put out the word, then the mayor stepped in to help the employees. I'm glad he did. I know that the Beach and points south, for the most part, didn't have more than some wind a few passing showers, but I can't believe some employers would have the guts to call employees in and threaten to fire them....some people....

[mf_dolphin]

Our company has always acted in the best interest of the employees when dealing with an approaching hurricane to their credit. When we have our company hurricane prep meetings personal safety is always stressed as being the most important thing. That being said, I don't know how they would deal with the absences following a major hurricane. I would assume that individuals requiring extended time-off to deal with personal issues would be expected to use vacation time to do so. I don't see where you could expect much less......

[bosag]

I am a sahm, but my dh has been out of work all week due to no power, His boss is cool about everything, I thnk they will try to go in tomorrow if they can get a generator going.

Barb

[betsy65freddy79]

Since I am an ER nurse, I must say that MY company is paying me time and a half for the 50+ hours I've already worked this week.

[cape_escape]

My boss is has paid us for all days missed due to bnoth Charley and frances...bless his heart! But, my husband has not been as fortunate. He has used up all of his vacation days, so we ar going ot be in BIG trouble if we get hit again!

[ACM]

My boss has been a gem during Charley & Frances. We had a paid day off from Charley as we closed the office and I had a paid day this week on Tuesday, after 3 days without power I simply had no inclination to work & she understood. Unfortunately she is in CA right now, so if Ivan comes this way we can all pitch in to get the office safe as possible but her house will be on it's own. Our biggest concern is our plane as our biz relies on it, no one is in agreement right now where to fly it to if need be. No one appreciated my suggestion of Nebraska.

[Extratropical]

I work for the State of Florida and we have to use our vacation time. One of our employees was stranded in his flooded home on the Mnatee River and still has to use his vacation time. We are told the Tax payers would nt like to have to pay us to stay home.

[gboudx]

Wow! I would never work for a company that would deduct vacation time to make up for lost time due to a disaster. That's ridiculous. All the companies I've worked for ate the cost in the spirit of doing what's best for their employees.

[NFLnut]

I am an employer, and all of my employees are hourly, but they have accrued several weeks of vacation time. I cannot afford to pay them for time they haven't worked, as my business has lost THOUSANDS of dollars due to both Hurricane Charley AND Frances. Charley put us out of business for a week. Frances put us out of business for three days. If my employees want to be paid for the days the business was closed, they'll HAVE to use ther vacation time. We are a SMALL business and just can't afford to pay people for time the business isn't open. *I* don't get paid either! And the bills are still due whether we are open OR closed!

[AmeliaIslandr]

My company has always been EMPLOYEES first, we were able to take runs to get necessary supplies. When we shut down to prepare our homes, we got paid, and for those that needed financial assistance ie extra cash in hand they came through with cash advances. Since schools in our area are still closed, we are also allowed to bring in the children if needed. It's nice working for people who believe that without the employees, they wouldn't be where they are at now.