Many companies affected by the current economic downturn are searching for
ways to help weather that storm. Occasional reduction in work hours,
implementing mandatory vacations, or instituting short-term furloughs can
help an employer to retain experienced employees, while allowing the
company to achieve cost savings in this time of economic crisis. The
Department of Labor (DOL) recently released three opinion letters written
in January of this year in response to employer inquiries about the effect
of such short-term shut-downs on employees’ exempt status under
the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
