Question:
Our company policy says that employees must obtain authorization before working overtime, but one of our employees has continued to work overtime despite my telling him to stop. What can I do about this?
Answer from Kim, SPHR, SHRM-SCP:
You may discipline for unauthorized overtime as you would for any other violation of your policy.
It sounds as though you have already given the employee a verbal warning. I would recommend issuing a written warning for the next violation. If the violations continue, you could take further corrective action, up to and including termination.
Following this sort of progressive discipline in accordance with your policy helps protect you in the event the employee challenges any of the corrective actions.
Remember, though, that any overtime worked by non-exempt employees must be compensated, regardless of whether the overtime was authorized.
Kim, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Kim is a results-driven HR Professional with experience from diverse industries, including but not limited to, transportation, environmental services, staffing, pharmaceutical, market research, banking, retail, software development and education non-profit. In her spare time, Kim enjoys the beautiful view from her home and being with her husband and their German shepherd, Fin.
