Churches and schools often have annual meetings or retreats that employees must attend.  A source of irritation for employees can be the issue of pay — or no pay — for time spent attending meetings and training sessions.

Tell employees they have to attend a meeting or training program, and the employees may raise questions like these:

• Is attendance mandatory, or can we skip it?
• If we show up, do we get paid?
• If we don’t get paid for the time at the meeting or training, why do we have to attend?

Church leadership can lessen, and even end, the irritation employees experience, and avoid having to deal with questions like those above by adopting a clear policy on the topic.

Address the following in this policy:

1. How often do you have employee meetings?  For example: once a year…once a month…every other month.
2. Is employee attendance requested or mandatory?  This is especially important if meetings are held when all employees aren’t on-duty but are required to come into work to attend the meeting.

   Warning: Keep in mind that if you require off-duty employees to attend meetings… you must pay them for that time, if they are non-exempt employees.  Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must pay employees for attending meetings: (1) if their attendance is mandatory and (2) the meeting serves to benefit the employer.  If meetings are strictly voluntary and outside of working hours, you may not be required to pay employees.  Get information on the Fair Labor Standards Act from the U.S. Department of Labor’s “ELAWS” website –
   http://www.dol.gov/elaws/flsa.htm

3. Be sure and mention where the meetings are usually held, what time they are held and what type of topics will be discussed.

Here’s some wording to consider in a meetings policy: “The Company holds monthly employee meetings.  These meetings are usually held at 4 p.m. in the staff lounge.  All employees are required to attend.  Off-duty personnel are required to punch-in at the start of the meeting and punch-out at the end of the meeting.  You will be paid your regular rate of pay for your attendance at these meetings.”

NOTE: We’re not lawyers or spokespersons for the government!  We do try to provide accurate and helpful information.  But this is not intended to provide a legal service for your individual needs.  For legal guidance in your specific situations, always consult with an attorney who is familiar with employment law and labor issues.  Our friends at the Church Law Group would be happy to assist with legal guidance – www.churchlawgroup.com.  That having been said, we can offer you a sample policy on the meetings and training topic – www.pskcpa.com.