LEGAL COMPLIANCE: CALCULATING MULTIPLE PAY RATES FOR SECURITY GUARDS
Jeff DiDomenico, VP Business Development & Strategy, Trackforce Valiant + TrackTik
To hire and retain high-quality talent, it’s essential that guards are paid fairly based on their responsibilities, skills, and hours worked. Employers may seek to pay different wage rates for different job duties performed by employees during the same workweek. For example, employers might want to pay armed security guards a higher rate than unarmed security guards or pay one rate for guarding time and a lower rate for training or travel time.
While state and federal wage and hour laws permit employers to pay employees at more than one hourly rate for different kinds of work, employers must ensure that employees are properly compensated or face serious legal repercussions. Adding overtime to the mix only increases the potential for compliance headaches. For example, federal law prohibits any compensation plan that artificially deflates an employee’s regular hourly rate or evades overtime requirements.
Many states also have strict rules for calculating pay rates, and an acceptable method of calculation in one state may not work in another state. Plus, employers must comply with both federal and state law and must pay employees according to whichever law is more favorable (i.e., generous) to the employee. Consider California as an example, where employers must pay the California minimum wage of $16.00 per hour, because it is more generous than the federal rate of $7.25 per hour.
When an employee performs two or more different types of work in a single workweek and receives different base rates of pay, the regular rate for that week is calculated according to one of two methods: the weighted average or the rate-in-effect.
How are these methods calculated and what strategies can employers use to reduce state and federal compliance risks? Download a copy of our guide: Calculating Multiple Pay Rates for Security Guards to find out.
In 2000, Jeff joined Trackforce Valiant + TrackTik as a partner and took on the role of VP of Sales & Marketing. Before this, he successfully owned a computer supply company, which he later sold to OfficeMax. Throughout his tenure with Trackforce Valiant + TrackTik, Jeff has been dedicated to establishing the company as North America’s foremost provider of security management software.
In addition, Jeff has played a pivotal role in advancing the Valiant Partner Marketplace, the Security Executive Roadshow, and various client events. He is a frequent speaker at various security associations and is recognized as a leading figure and content curator in the security industry.
Moreover, Jeff also serves as the host and co-content creator of Thinkcurity, a dynamic platform revolutionizing education in the physical security industry. Through engaging content and profound thought leadership, Thinkcurity empowers individuals in all aspects of running a thriving security operation.