Employers Should be Prepared to Deal with the Impact of Hurricane Matthew

Executive Summary: The governors of Florida and South Carolina have issued states of emergency as the East Coast braces for Hurricane Matthew. Although Matthew was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane after crossing Cuba on Tuesday, forecasters expect it to strengthen again, possibly to a Category 4, before nearing Florida on Thursday. The approaching storm serves as a reminder that employers should be prepared to address storm-related issues if they are required to close their businesses and as they prepare to resume normal operations. For example, employers need to determine whether closing the office means having to pay workers who stay home, being on the hook for unemployment compensation, and whether workers’ compensation applies to weather-related injuries.