Snow Day Rights

Loanranger

I wonder about the example that is set to children when their teachers don't turn in to work because of a covering of snow.

motorguy

heatherw_01 wrote: »

When I worked at a supermarket that treated staff poorly, when I couldn't get in as I was snowed in and the buses weren't running I called in and was told if I can't get in it would be a disciplinary or I would have to take it as a sick day.
After 2 periods sick in a year you got a disciplinary too

Sometimes a carrot works, sometimes a stick is needed.

motorguy

pjcox2005 wrote: »

I work in professional services so everything is charged by the hour so understand completely and it is just the way of the world. I do find it strange though that the system is so constrained/efficient that people can't cope with a couple of days shut, it's not like the business/sale if genuine should be lost into the ether forever.

Ultimately "the system" (in question) relies on recharging for peoples time so any time that they suddenly cant recharge becomes a problem.

I am a self employed IT contractor so charge a day rate. Its always bemusing to watch around an office and see how many contractors manage to make it in and / or generally arent off sick compared to permies....

nodosh3

Some of us are unemployed, me only recently and trying my best to get a job, would love to have the problem of trying to get to work. But my problem is I am supposed to sign on this week, otherwise no paltry job seekers allowance which I am now relying on being out of work for three months. I live 10 miles from the job centre and up a hill that is not gritted and icy. Do I have to go in, would I lose my two weeks of benefits, is this a legitimate reason? I am worried about trying to drive down a very icy hilly windy set of roads.

[Deleted User]

Hi nodosh

Can you phone and check? At work we were given a weather care automated line to call to check before travelling when it looked like it was getting progressively worse and terrible accidents were happening on the stretch of road that takes me to work over last couple of days.

Well I can't be the matyr this time, like schools in my work area, my current employer has taken the decision to shut it's site today!

We've been asked not to travel. As much as I want to record it judging by this thread!

nodosh3

I can phone of course, and I will do so before I am due to sign on, by when I am hoping the weather will be better (?). I just wondered what the legal/rights situation was as I have heard/read from other longer term out of workers that the job centre is not flexible, caring or interested - would they just stop my benefits or would they be able to change my signing date - any precedent for this before I call them? Hope I get a job soon as dealing with them is fraught with incompetence as it is. And among all the talk of people on benefits living it up, not sure I can survive much longer on a paltry £73.10 a week.

worried_jim

My wife is at the window now, it is an absolute blizzard, gale blowing and 5c below freezing. If it gets any worse I am going to let her in.

John-K_3

nodosh3 wrote: »

Some of us are unemployed, me only recently and trying my best to get a job, would love to have the problem of trying to get to work. But my problem is I am supposed to sign on this week, otherwise no paltry job seekers allowance which I am now relying on being out of work for three months. I live 10 miles from the job centre and up a hill that is not gritted and icy. Do I have to go in, would I lose my two weeks of benefits, is this a legitimate reason? I am worried about trying to drive down a very icy hilly windy set of roads.

I believe that you do have to go in, yes. If you are not comfortable,driving then a taxi is maybe a good idea, it’ll cost a lot less than two weeks benefit payments.

Smodlet

worried_jim wrote: »

My wife is at the window now, it is an absolute blizzard, gale blowing and 5c below freezing. If it gets any worse I am going to let her in.

Would her name happen to be Cathy?


Sorry, Nodosh but unless things have changed, if you don't sign on on the right day not only will you not be paid, your claim could be closed down (usually not for a few days/a week) You would then have to go through the whole rigmarole of starting it up again with the added strife of trying to convince them you really are available for full time work even though you can't get to their office once a fortnight. If that sounds harsh, sorry but it is the way it is for a reason.

bertiewhite

I'm sure schools close at the drop of a hat these days because of the internet.

I think most schools have a facebook page or website these days so it's easy to say "don't bother coming in" whereas we didn't have that means of communications in the 80's.

I seem to remember my school only ever closed once due to bad weather whilst I was there and and that was due to the heating breaking down so the first we knew of it was when we turned up at the gates. If teachers or pupils didn't turn up due to bad weather then classes were amalgamated in the assembly hall and we carried on or we had study periods for that particular lesson we were teacherless.