Q. "Can we require employees to do extra work outside their scheduled hours?"
Answer:
Yes. As an employer, you have control over schedules and can modify them as needed. That may mean scheduling additional work time for employees on occasion. We recommend having this written in your Staff Handbook as well so you can reference it for employees who may question extra hours. Some other things you need to keep in mind:
Non-Exempt Staff - If they are an hourly employee, you need to pay their regular hourly rate in addition to any overtime they qualify for when working extra hours.
Exempt Staff - Properly classified exempt employees don’t need to be paid extra for extra work but, if the extra hours are excessive, consider allowing them to take some extra time off within the same pay period.
Be understanding. Some employees may have commitments they can’t change or may otherwise be unable to work the extra hours. If they have not previously been scheduled outside their normal work hours, giving them a heads up well in advance of any change to their schedule may increase the chance they can take on the extra work.
Remember that if you plan to make the extra work a requirement for certain positions, be sure to make this clear when hiring or you may experience unwelcome turnover. In time additional hours could lead to burnout. Make sure ministry leaders are regularly communicating with their team members about workloads and morale.