(CNS Business): With the exception of casual or domestic workers, all people employed in the Cayman Islands need a contract of employment. All bosses in the business community are required by law to provide terms and conditions of employment in writing. Officials from the new Department of Labour and Pensions said the contracts should include written statements of working conditions and be issued within ten working days of staff starting work. Employers who need help complying with the law can contact the department for help, officials said. Meanwhile, bosses are also being asked to update staff records in case of a hurricane.

Offering support to employers who need to comply with employment law, the department said business owners who need assistance or guidance completing an employee contract can contact the department, which is located on the second floor of Mid-Town Plaza on Elgin Avenue.

Aside from contracts, businesses employing ten or more people must also keep an accurate work account for each employee, recording their time worked by pay periods, leave taken, as well as basic wages and other pay received.

Meanwhile, employers are also being reminded to ensure they know where their workers will be during office closures in the face of approaching storms and hurricanes.

“The success of your business may count on your being able to find your employees,” said Department of Labour and Pensions Director Mario Ebanks. “The start of hurricane season each 1 June is a good time to review emergency plans, and we encourage all businesses to update their contact information for employees.”

The department is recommending that employee information includes telephone contact information, residential address, and who should be contacted in case of emergency. When businesses ask employees where they plan to be during the storm, not only does this mean that the employer can find staff, but also that the employee plans ahead, an important action for every family and business living and operating in the storm belt.

It also advised that updated contact lists be readily available to more than one individual and accessible from alternate sites. Remember, redundancies and contingencies are the necessities of business continuity.

In preparation for the hurricane season, business owners are also asked to ensure that all employees’ health insurance and pension payments are current. Employees should ensure that their travel documents, like passports and visas, are up to date.

The Department of Labour and Pensions is open to the public from 9:00am to 4:00pm Monday-Friday; telephone: 945-8960, fax: 945-8961, confidential hotline for labour and pensions complaints: 945-3073.