With fall in full swing, it’s that time of year again where Daylight Saving Time is coming to a close, which means it’s almost time to turn back the clocks. Starting at 2:00 a.m. CST on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, Daylight Saving Time will end.
Of course, this means an extra hour of sleep (thank you!). But if you’re an employer, there’s more to it. To make sure you’re ready for a smooth transition, take the below steps.
How employers should prepare for the end of Daylight Saving Time
1. Review employee schedules
If you have third-shift employees, review their schedules. If those employees are normally scheduled eight hours (e.g., 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.), they will be working nine hours since clocks will be moving back one hour. To avoid incurring overtime for those employees, adjust schedules accordingly. Do this as soon as possible to ensure employees aren’t caught off guard.
2. Establish a policy or standard
Determine how to handle employees with hours impacted by the end of Daylight Saving Time. If the time change will push those employees into overtime range, many companies will schedule them for one hour less during the work week. Whatever you decide, be consistent so there are not surprises. If you have any questions regarding overtime calculation, review your state laws.
3. Communicate changes that impact employees
Remind employees about the time change and any related schedule changes. Alert them in advance if the end of Daylight Saving Time will affect their hours worked. Communicate these changes with a notification in Workforce Ready, a sign in the break room or a note on check stubs. Not only will this reduce the number of questions you get regarding schedules, it will save you (and your employees) time and frustration.
4. Check time clocks
B2E Solutions clients with the Tranz380 time clocks will receive the newly updated time when it does its next transmission after this time. If you’re currently a client and have questions regarding your clocks, please email our support line at clocksupport@b2esolutionsinc.com. Regardless of what type of time clocks you use, supervisors and managers should review punches to ensure each employee’s time is properly recorded.
Are you using Time & Labor?
If you’re not already taking advantage of a tool that makes it easier for you to capture employee time and streamline associated approvals, scheduling, and workflow processes, you could be missing out. To find out more about how our Time & Labor solution can make seasonal transitions easier and save you time and trouble down the line, schedule a quick demo today!
Already use our Time & Labor solution but have questions? Contact your client service representative (CSR) or reach out via our website. We are here to help!
Editor’s note: This blog was updated on Oct. 27, 2020, with the most recent information.
