Hey, Where'd Everybody Go? Employers Beware—Solar Eclipse Mania Sweeps The Nation

You look around the office in August, and suddenly, without warning, everyone is gone. Or perhaps human resources and managers are starting to realize that an unusual number of employees have just asked for the same time off. What's so special about August 21, 2017? What on Earth is going on?

For those of you still in the dark, a total solar eclipse will cross the continental United States, coast to coast, on Monday, August 21, an event that has not occurred for 26 years. Beginning in Oregon, the moon will slip between the sun and the Earth, aligning to block our view of the sun. The entire nation will witness a partial eclipse, while a total eclipse will take place along a roughly 70-mile wide swath, known as the path of totality. The path of totality will span across more than a dozen states.1 Approximately 12 million Americans live in the totality path. Moreover, roughly 75 million people fall within a relatively short 200-mile drive of the eclipse's main trajectory—including residents of several major metropolitan areas such as Portland, OR; Denver, CO; Kansas City, MO; Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; and Charlotte, NC.

Predictions vary, but millions of Americans are expected to travel for this potentially once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.2 South Carolina estimates that one million visitors will turn up. Crook County, in central Oregon, anticipates that 30,000 people will descend on Big Summit Prairie, where locals may see their county population easily double. The pinnacle of the eclipse will occur near Hopkinsville, Kentucky, a town of 33,000, which may welcome more than 100,000 eclipse watchers; local officials have already requested assistance from the National Guard. Across the country, festivals have been organized and portable toilets ordered. School districts have altered schedules to account for the event and the traffic. As eclipse mania spreads, employers should prepare for prospective workplace disruptions, particularly if they operate in or near the path of totality.

Who Turned Out the Lights?

If they have not already, employers may notice numerous vacation requests from employees intending to take time off to travel for and/or view the eclipse. Depending on business needs and employee interest in the eclipse, employers may need to limit the use of vacation or other time off. In anticipation of competing or last-minute requests for time off, employers should review their policies and consider how to handle a spike in such requests. Unionized employers should consult any collective bargaining agreements for any relevant terms. Employers may wish to disclose to employees, in advance, any plan for moderating requests. As with any privilege, if employers will grant time off to some employees to view the eclipse, but not others, employers will want to guard against claims of discrimination or favoritism. Of course, all requests should be evaluated fairly, consistent with the employer's policies and normal practices, which could be supplemented by a reward system or lottery system where requests are too overwhelming.

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