So yesterday’s post was about being a Miami Hurricane. Today’s? A real-life hurricane/tropical storm (Henri) is making it’s way to Southern New England.
It’s impact here in Connecticut is still very much up in the air as of midday Friday but for employers, this is still another challenge to have to manage.
Thankfully (or not,
So, by now (Friday morning), your preparations at your workplace should be in full swing. The latest forecasts this morning call for a landfall on Sunday somewhere along the Connecticut coast (perhaps Bridgeport) with hurricane impacts felt throughout the state.
Connecticut has set up some new resources since my post yesterday specifically on Hurricane Irene. The 8 a.m. update is posted here. It is frequently updated and also has a list of people to follow on Twitter.
But so far, it’s not easy to find out about all storm-related workplace laws in one place on the state’s website. (How about an update Department of Labor?)
While a blog post cannot address all of the FAQs that might come up, I thought it would be helpful to discuss a few wage/hour issues. As always, consult with your legal counsel/advisor on any specific issues you have and how these laws might apply to your workplace.
Reporting Time or Minimum Daily Earnings Guaranteed: Connecticut has a “reporting time” obligation (as do several of our neighboring states). It is contained in various regulations and applies to certain industries like the “mercantile trade”. You should already be aware of this law, but it has particular application in storm situations where people may not work full shifts.Continue Reading Hurricane Irene: “Reporting Time” Pay and Other Wage & Hour Issues for Employers
Some of the long-range computer weather models have been forecasting that the next few weeks will become quite active in the tropics. For those on the East Coast and Connecticut, that can only mean one thing: Let the hurricane watching, speculating, and hyperventilating begin.
It’s not necessarily a theoretical issue either. Today marks the 55th anniversary
Tropical Storm Danny (no relation) formed in the Atlantic Ocean late this morning. It’s still days away from a potential impact on the East Coast but Connecticut IS within the forecasted track’s "cone".
Whether it strengthens to a hurricane and hits 
Connecticut, or meanders harmlessly into the Atlantic Ocean is for the weather forecasters
As Tropical Storm Fay continues to pound Florida this week, I was recently reminded that it’s been 
23 years since Connecticut suffered a direct hit from a Hurricane — the infamous Hurricane Gloria.
No worries then for Connecticut, right? Wrong. Connecticut has been hit by several tropical storms since then — just like Fay —