How Does Daylight Savings Time Affect My Pay?

This weekend marks the beginning of daylight savings time. On Sunday, March 11 at 2 a.m., time will “spring ahead” one hour for most states across the country. Late shift workers and other over-night employees may wonder about the impact of the time change on their take home pay.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) provides many basic protections to employees. This includes the requirement that employers pay workers at least minimum wage and non-exempt workers earn overtime pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours in any one work week. When the time changes (springing forward), an employee who works an 11-7 shift will only actually work 7 hours. Conversely, when time changes to “standard time” in the fall, the worker will put in 9 hours. Generally, the FLSA does not require that overnight workers be paid for an 8-hour shift in the spring where the workers in actuality only put in 7 hours. However, company policies may provide payment for the lost hour. In the fall though, employers are required to compensate workers for all time on the job, including the extra hour worked.

For more information or if you have any questions concerning wage and hour laws, please contact the experienced Atlanta wage and hour attorneys at Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP for an immediate case evaluation.