As Brits we can’t stop talking about the weather. From it being too hot to too cold, we’re never happy, and that’s likely because the weather has such a big effect on most things we do, our businesses included.
As a business owner you probably dread extreme weather when it's forecast because of the amount of problems it can cause, particularly with your employees.
Should you expect employees to come to work in bad weather?
Employees are responsible for getting themselves to work, however they should not be taking any unnecessary risks to do so.
If extreme weather sets in, you should:
Encourage staff to keep you informed if weather disruption is affecting their journey
Consider local weather warnings and advice on travelling.
As an employer, you have a duty of care to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of your staff during severe weather disruptions. This means you should not be encouraging staff to travel to work when it is not safe to do so, for example during extreme snow or ice.
If you can, being able to be flexible is essential when the great British weather disrupts your business.
Do you still have to pay staff who cannot get to work?
Having a bad weather policy isn't always necessary, but you should advise your staff what will happen in these events. You do not legally have to pay staff who cannot get to work due to bad weather, as long as the workplace remains open.
However, we promote a practical approach here - it isn’t their fault they couldn’t get to work and the circumstances are really out of their control. Instead of unpaid leave, you and your staff can work together to mutually agree on employees potentially working from home if possible, using paid annual leave (although this cannot be forced without proper statutory notice) or making up the hours at a later date.
What if schools close?
As we mentioned, bad weather can affect us all, even beyond our commute to and from work.
Often when bad weather sets in, such as snow or ice, schools will close, which means employees suddenly have children at home with them. Again, it can be a case of having a discussion with your employee and being flexible in order to sort the situation.
Have you got a bad weather policy in place, or at minimum, advised your staff?
It’s a good idea to do this now before winter sets in and the weather turns. Having a clear, consistent approach to these sorts of situations means everyone will know what happens and prevents frustration among employees.
Make sure everyone knows who to contact if they cannot attend work
Discuss options with employees rather than making assumptions about their circumstances
Apply your approach consistently, while considering individual needs and any reasonable adjustments that may be required
Keep a record of agreed arrangements, including any changes to pay or working hours.
If you want to get prepared, we can help you. We’d advise getting help now before the next cold snap hits.