With fall in full swing, it’s that time of year again where Daylight Saving Time (DST) is coming to a close, which means it’s almost time to turn back the clocks. Starting at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, DST 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 steps below.
How to prepare for the end of Daylight Savings 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.
Determine how to handle employees with hours impacted by the end of daylight saving. If the time change will push those employees into overtime range, many companies will schedule them for one hour less during the work week. If you have any questions regarding overtime calculation, review your state laws.
3. Communicate.
Remind employees about the time change and any related schedule changes. Alert them in advance if the end of daylight saving will affect their hours worked. Communicate these changes with a notification in Orbit Solutions, 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.
Payroll Data Services 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@payrolldata.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.
We’re here to help!
If you’re not already taking advantage of time and labor tools, you could be missing out. To find out more about how Orbit Time and Labor can make seasonal transitions easier and save you time and trouble down the line, contact us today!
Already have Orbit Time & Labor but have questions? Contact your client service representative (CSR). They are happy to help!