Can you miss work if it’s snowing and do you get paid for snow days?
THE country is getting its first taste of winter and snowy conditions might make it difficult to work.
Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice have been put in place in the North,the Midlands, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Met Office is advising that vehicles could be stranded, power cuts may occur and rural areas could be cut off.
But anyone looking forward to a snow day should double-check their work contract to see if they get paid for time off.
This is all the information you require.
Where is it snowing in the UK?
The Met Office put three yellow warnings for snow and ice in place in the North, the Midlands, Wales,ScotlandandNorthern Irelandadvising that vehicles could be stranded, power cuts may occur and rural areas could be cut off.
The yellow warning forEnglandhas been issued until 11am and the warning for Scotland will remain in place until 10am on Wednesday.
A number of schools in England and Wales were closed on Tuesday due to the conditions.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the first amber cold weather health alert of the season, warning conditions could be dangerous for vulnerable people, including the elderly.
The amber warning covers the east and north of England, the Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber, with yellow alerts coming into place for the South East, South West and London at 8am on Tuesday, lasting until 6pm on Saturday.
National Rail warned the cold climate would affect various routes on northern train services until at least 2pm on Tuesday.
Can I take the day off work if it snows?
Your boss can’t force you to travel to work if it’s dangerous, but they usually don’t have to pay you either.
If it’s possible to work from home, you will probably have to, and if not you could be asked to take unpaid leave, annual leave or to make up the hours another time.
You might even be asked to travel into another office that has not been so badly affected by the weather.
Different companies have different rules, so make sure you check your office handbook and contract carefully to see what the extreme weather policy is.
Of course, if you genuinely can’t get in you should let your boss know as early as possible.
If my office is closed due to the snow, do I have to take a holiday day?
If your office decides to shut but you were ready and able to go in, the company can’t dock your pay.
They shouldn’t be able to make you take holiday either, as employers normally have to give you at least two days’ notice before they can force you to take annual leave.
You should also get paid in full if your employer reduces your hours due to weather, and if the staff who provide access to your building are unable to get in.
In a nutshell – if you’re ready, willing and available to work, but can’t because of a problem that’s caused by your employer, they usually have to pay you in full.
Check your contract carefully though, as some workplaces may have different policies.
Can you take a day off work if it dips below a certain temperature?
Generally speaking,you can’t take time off just because it’s cold.
But employers do have a legal requirement to provide a reasonable level of comfort without the need for special clothing.
The law doesn’t define what the minimum and maximum working temperatures should be, but Health and Safety Executive guidelines say offices should be at least 16 degrees or a minimum of 13C if the work “involves rigorous physical effort”.
So if your office is dropping below those temperatures, you have a case for working from home.
But ultimately, it’s down to your employer.
ACAS says employers should consider relaxing dress codes to allow warmer clothing, allow extra breaks to make hot drinks and consider alternative heating sources such as portable radiators.
It’s also up to your boss to do everything they possibly can to restrict exposure and reduce draughts.
Advice given to employers also includes considering the possibility of flexible working hours or rotas to help reduce the effects of a cold snap.
What should I do if my children’s school has closed due to the snow and I have to miss work to look after them?
Legally, you’re allowed to take time off work to look after dependents, such as children, in emergency situations.
These could include:
- if school is closed and a worker cannot leave their child
- when caring arrangements for a disabled relative are cancelled
- if a partner is seriously injured as a result of bad weather.
This time will be unpaid unless your contract or office policy says otherwise.
You need to let your employer know as soon as possible.
Make sure that you explain you are taking the time to look after a dependent and explain what the issue is and how long the absence is likely to be.
Anyone with worker status rather than employee status will need to come to an arrangement with their employer.
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