In the wake of our most recent hurricane, employers may be dealing with absent employees. During emergencies and natural disasters, sometimes employees stay in contact while others disappear entirely. Many employers are unsure if they must allow employees time off of work because of the storm. The short answer to this question is no, absences from work due to damage caused by a natural disaster such as a hurricane are not protected leave under state or federal law. Generally, employers are free to treat absences from work due to natural disasters as they would any other type of unexcused and unprotected leave. Continue reading “What to Do When Employees Don’t Show Up” →