DEAR CARRIE: I am part of a staff of eight in a doctor's office. We do not get paid for holidays, sick time or vacation. Now the doctor is thinking about closing the office this Friday. But we didn't ask for the day off and are willing to come in because if he closes the office, we will not get paid. Is he legally allowed to do this? _ Doctoring the Schedule
DEAR DOCTORING: Just as an aside, I always find it incredible that a doctor doesn't give employees sick days. He or she of all people should know the importance of such a benefit.
But to your question, if you and your colleagues are hourly, or nonexempt, employees, the doctor has to pay you only when you work, even if he or she is the reason you aren't on the job. So when the office isn't open, you don't have to be paid. When inclement weather hits and companies close as a result, they don't have to pay hourly workers. But some companies do because they don't want to cause hardships for their employees.
For exempt employees, such as managers and professionals, the situation is different. They would have to be paid even if the office closed. Their pay could be docked only if they missed a full day of work for personal reasons.
Perhaps some of you could speak to the doctor about the hardship closing the office would pose for you. Maybe the good doctor will decide to be in instead.
