Extreme weather and work. Advice please.

onebusybee

If you are unable to attend work due to snow / ice and road closures is it possible for your employers to give any form of disaplinary?
I was off work ill last week and could not get in today due to road conditions and now paranoid if I can't get in again tomorrow and rest of week it may be taken against me.
I love my job, it gives me my independence but it really isn't worth risking my life on horrendous roads to get there. Plus most of the routes I use for work have now been closed off by the police.

mcduff16

Where I work we have to take it as annual leave if we are unable to get into work due to the snow, so that maybe an option?

onebusybee

I will mention that too them tomorrow (over the phone if I can't get in!) Thanks!

Person_one

Make sure they know about the police road closures, that would definitely affect my opinion of the situation.

Googlewhacker

It would be very harsh of employers to discipline you for not getting into work due to the well known adverse weather conditions.

However I wouldn't expect them to pay you for it but they may allow you to take it as holiday so you don't lose pay or take it unpaid.

pink_princess

We had to close two of our stores early on Saturday due to the snow,the road closures etc are very very easy for your employer to check ,so is a route planner from your post code to work.If you can t get in then print these off to prove it ,then I fail to see how they could discipline for it .I find BBC traffic news one of best and AA route planner .

MrRedundant

Well it was only a matter of time before these started

1) If your employer chooses not to open they cannot penalise you unless they have a lay off clause or clause that allows them to cancel you at short notice. If they try to close refuse and then if they insist you are closed they still have to pay

2) If you have children you have some rights to parental leave although I suspect once you move in to day 2 this will be less acceptable

3) If you choose simply not to go you can be docked pay or leave for it; A discliplinary can be considered however there would need to be reasons such as breaching set absence periods or suspicions you didnt bother.

onebusybee

Thanks everyone.

I don't expect to be paid for not being there but as I have quite a lot of holiday left I will ask for today to be taken as leave.
I certainly intend on doing my very best to get there however if I can't then that is beyond my control.
They should know about the police closures as it is all over the local news and radio. There is zero possibility of my workplace closing down due to the nature of business and as majority of collegues live within walking distance there should be some staff able to make it.
I have arranged childcare for the rest of the week just incase the school doesn't re-open.

onebusybee

MrRedundant wrote: »

Well it was only a matter of time before these started

Of course it was, I'm suprised I was the first. After all not everyone knows the ins and outs of these situations and that's what advice forums are for!

MrsManda

After January's snow chaos, direct.gov.uk have issued guidance on your employment rights during travel disruption.
You can see details here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Timeoffandholidays/DG_184199

Uncertain

It comes down to what is reasonable.

For example, one person who normally drives three miles to work may put their wellies on and trudge through a foot of snow to get there.

Another may not be physically well enough to do that.

A third may just choose not to.

Where do you draw the line?