Microsoft Worldwide Outage and Reporting Time Pay

Reporting time pay is required in California in order to discourage employers from requiring employees to report to work and then furnishing them with fewer hours than promised. An employee sent home early must be paid half of their scheduled shift, up to four hours (but no less than two hours).

Companies opening their doors this morning to find computer issues may be wondering whether it’s prudent to send their employees home for the day. There are only three exceptions to reporting time pay obligations:

1. When operations cannot begin or continue due to threats to employees or property or when civil authorities recommend that work not begin or continue

2. When public utilities fail to supply electricity, water, or gas, or there is a failure in the public utilities or sewer system

3. When the interruption of work is caused by an Act of God or other cause not within the employer’s control, for example, an earthquake

Unfortunately, computer hacks and glitches are not among the listed exceptions. If you have employees who cannot work as they normally can, consider whether there are other productive activities they can engage in—at least (for full-time employees) for up to four hours.

Call us at Sierra HR Partners if you have any questions about reporting time pay.