The Department of Public Works in Methuen, Massachusetts, paid employees $169,000 between December and March for shoveling snow even though it was the second mildest on history in the state's history, according to the Eagle Tribune. Employees were scheduled to cover 24-hour shifts throughout the winter months, and were paid premium rates - between $27.70 and $44.30 per hour - for time attendance on the weekends, the news source reports.

The Department of Labor's Fair Standards Act (FLSA) does not guarantee workers overtime rates for hours worked on weekends, night or holidays, but it does require employers pay them time-and-a-half if they work more than 40 hours in a week. Additionally, the FLSA does not put a cap on the amount of overtime an employee can accrue in any given week for which they must be properly compensated.

As a result of this, it's imperative for employers working on a budget to closely monitor employee attendance and develop appropriate payroll policies that minimize overtime abuse. There are now mobile timeclocks and timekeeping programs that allow workers to punch in and out when they are performing on-the-go work such as snow plowing, which can help employers track work time remotely.

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