Monthly Archives: October 2013

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

I guess with the sun still shining brightly and weather still warm I should not be thinking about dreaded winter weather already- but I am (sorry).  Snow, and its sinister partner in crime, ice, have caused me much annoyance and upheaval in the past.

The weatherwoman reported this morning by the end of the week the temperature may have dropped by 10°C. It may not be long before we see the little white fluffy snow clouds appearing on the weather chart, accompanied by the blue temperature figures, and the Country will spiral into  chaos. For the last few years as soon as the temperature plummets and the little white flakes start to fall fear sets in, as do school closures, disrupted public transport services and icy paths. So now is the time to start thinking about your ‘snow policy’.

Having a snow policy (or adverse weather policy) is not only about who will grit the paths from the car park to the entrance, but also what will the company do if their staff cannot get into the office due to snow and ice difficulties.  Staff have the right to take unpaid leave from work in an emergency involving their children or a dependant . A school being closed due to snow is classified as such an emergency. Asking staff to get into work “under any conditions” may also put them at risk- what if they get into work by public transport then buses are cancelled mid-afternoon? . Maybe discussing now want you expect your staff to do when the weather is extremely bad may help on a bleak icy December morning. Could staff work from home, could they come in later or leave earlier, could they ask a nearby  colleague to pick them up if they are unable to get public transport?

So my recommendation on this sunny Monday afternoon is to start thinking about the not so fun snow days to come and maybe taking a look at this link to the BBC web-site http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11886185

Tracy