As an employer, you might find yourself struggling financially at some point. You may have to resort to pay cuts or even layoffs. Furlough is an alternative to letting go of your hardworking employees. Learn more about the pros and cons of furlough, furlough meaning, and furlough laws below.
What is furlough?
休假是mandatory time off为员工工作，通常没有付款。休假是暂时的，员工仍然有自己的工作。
一些雇主可以选择提供休假或部分薪水带薪休假(PTO). Partial PTO could mean an employee is paid for some days (e.g., two days), part of the day, or a portion of their regular wages.
根据公司政策，员工可能需要在休假期间倾向于其PTO或假期余额。
Examples of employee furloughs may include:
- 每月两天
- 每月一周休息一周
- A few weeks off every other month
- Indefinite time period
You may implement employee furlough to decrease your expenses and save money. Furloughs can also occur due to lack of work in the business.
如果您需要帮助在Coronavirus大流行期间涵盖薪资，您可能会考虑申请薪水保护计划贷款。查看我们的文章，“Paycheck Protection Program: How to Apply for a Forgivable Loan During COVID-19，“ 了解更多信息。
您可以向员工授予一个休假日或多个休假日。一些企业甚至可能有定期的休假，如季节性商家或工厂。
Furlough vs. layoff
尽管休假和裁员可能听起来可能相似，但它们具有显着的差异。
在强制员工休假期间，员工在强制性员工休假期间休息或部分PTO。员工可能有特定的预定时间关闭或打电话进行工作。
如果您实施休假，请为员工提供时间框架，以便休假将持续多长时间。在无限期的休假期间，让员工尽可能地更新业务及其职位。
A layoff is a period where employers suspend or terminate an employee because of the business’s lack of work, cash, or materials. Employees may receive遣散费or no pay at all. During layoffs, employees usually have no call-back rights or expectations of the job returning.
An employer can opt for temporary layoffs where they cut back or temporarily stop an employee’s work, but the employee is still employed. However, unlike furloughs, there is no guarantee that a temporary layoff won’t be permanent. Employers decide if workers are recalled or not. If an employer chooses not to recall an employee, the layoff becomes permanent.
Pros and cons of furlough
The are advantages and disadvantages of employee furloughs. Check out the pros and cons before implementing furlough below.
Pros
Review how furlough may benefit your business.
Avoid layoffs and save costs
有点明显，但实施休假允许雇主避免雇用员工，同时省钱。您可以保留所有明星员工，同时也向他们保证他们未来的职位是安全的。
If you choose to partially pay or not pay employees during a furlough, you willreduce costs. Consider implementing furlough if you find there are more employees than there is work to do. Furloughs help you avoid paying employees for sitting around when there is lack of work.
No replacements
与裁员不同，休假通常不是永久性的。除非他们决定退出，否则相同的员工可能会在休假后返回。让员工了解休假将持续多长时间，如果可能的话，提供时间表，所以员工知道何时返回工作。
Cons
查看下面的休假缺点。
压力
Returning workers may feel overloaded with work. They might be stressed trying to keep up with production, which can affect performance. Employees may also fear that furloughs will not solve the problem in the long run.
If a furlough is unpaid and indefinite, employees will likely stress about money as well.
就业保障
您的员工可能会担心最坏的：裁员。他们可以开始寻找不需要休假或其他无薪假的其他工作。
Furlough laws
You must keep certain laws in mind when mandating employee furlough.
FLSA.
Underthe Fair Labor Standards Act（FLSA），有豁免和非豁免员工的具体规则。
Exempt employees通常在本周期间的任何工作获得固定的每周或双周薪水率。当你遗产员工豁免时，你不能在一周内缺席的日子费用（例如，每周两天休假）。
如果您的非豁免员工在休假期间工作，您只需支付工作时间的费用。确保你关注最低工资and overtime regulations when nonexempt employees work during a furlough.
Consider enforcing a “no work” rule to prevent employees from doing any work during the furlough. Make specific rules like having employees leave their devices at the office to prevent work (e.g., sending emails).
EEOC
You must also follow the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for employee furlough. You cannot issue furlough based on an employee’s race, age, gender, religion, nationality, disability, or genetic information.
NLRA
You may need to negotiate terms if your business is part of a union. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) requires you to negotiate terms and conditions with the union about employee furlough. Discuss details like the spacing of days and whether the employees can choose when to take furlough.
Contracts
Review individualcontracts of employmentbefore implementing an employee furlough policy. Some employees may have contractual rights to compensation or paid-leave benefits. Make sure the terms and conditions listed in employee contracts do not limit furloughs.
员工福利
Generally,common employee benefitsare not affected by furloughs (e.g., health insurance). Since furlough is temporary, employees are not entitled to severance pay, early retirement benefits, or outplacement.
根据国家，员工可能有资格获得失业救济金。核对您的州，了解有关失业救济金的特定法律。
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