What would happen where you work if you were "stranded" and late back from a holiday?

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I probably should say this is a school, so there's no possibility of being asked to take the extra days as holiday.

The staff member's return flight was delayed by 24 hours due to bad weather. The general unrest at this has also lead to people "realising" that he was off sick for the last three days before we broke up.

I'm only involved on periphery, thankfully, I'm not the one who has to deal with it and I'm not affected by the absence, but there is outrage among his immediate colleagues and I'm curious as to how this would be dealt with in other places. Our absence policy just says approval absence due to extreme weather is at the head teacher's discretion.

Would it be reasonable for the employer to ask for proof of the outward and return flight booking, as his colleagues are suggesting?

He would probably have to take the time as unpaid leave of absence.

Would it be reasonable for the employer to ask for proof of the outward and return flight booking, as his colleagues are suggesting?

Yep, people do lie about these things, I’ve come across it a number of times so I don’t see the problem in asking for details of the original booking and the cancellation/rebooking of the flight.

In terms of the time off, unless there was facility to take it as holiday/paid special leave, it would usually be unpaid. I know it’s a radical concept to some employees that to get paid for work that you actually have to turn up and do some

So is the implication that he's swinging the lead? I don't suppose it matters what people (colleagues) think, if he physically can't get back then what can be done? It's hardly his fault. Seems unfair to penalise him for events beyond his control.

Has anyone checked the weather at his holiday destination?

If it’s genuine and he’s not invented a cock and bull story to get the time off, knowing it wouldn’t have been authorised due to the school situation

Maybe I’ve spent too many years advising on HR issues but my inner cynic klaxon would definitely be going off.

I missed half a day of work on my last holiday cause I got trapped on the tube during Extinction Rebellion and didn't get in til 12. Then I was off sick the next two days as I went down hard with a UTI. (I am still dealing with the travel insurance, argh tifgroup!!)

Nothing happened re work. It was just bad luck.

I think proof of original booking details would be a good idea. Sounds suspicious given its happened at both ends - tho it may be unlucky, in which case the original booking confirmation can be used to remove all the suspicion.

It would be dealt with under the emergency leave policy - so whether it was paid/unpaid/toil/extra hols to be used would depend on how much emergency leave, if any, the person had already had that year.

I've had this with staff. I'd be asking for proof of booking and checking 4 different weather websites (and saving the info) before contacting the main airlines to see if they are / were flying there over those dates.

People are cheeky buggers.

Oh yes Mairzy. If there were extreme conditions it doesn't seem to have made any of the regular news sites, we haven't been told what the weather conditions were. It's in the Med. However, a colleague has phoned the airline (there really has been rather a lot of drama over this) and established that one of their flights from this destination was delayed to the following day that weekend.

I'd expect to have to provide proof of flight cancellation (also in a school). However if you can't physically be there then cover needs to be provided by the school.

Happened at my work, 3 days late back. Probation extended

Of course they should provide proof.

This happened at a school in our town 5 teachers went on holiday for a week and then they got snowed in at their holiday destination for an extra 4 days!! 🤣🤣🤣 there was nothing much that could be done tbh. I think they took it as unpaid leave?? Could be wrong though! It’s funny because a fellow teacher of mine is due back from a holiday this evening (she took Monday and today as personal days) and I was wondering what would happen if her flight got delayed/canceled! 🙈😬

I work in the private sector for a small company. If I was delayed a return from holiday by a day, I would expect absolutely nothing to happen. I’d be pretty annoyed if I was asked for proof.

Most schools have insurance for staff absence. It wouldn't be unexpected for the school to require proof of flights/ change for their insurers. That way they aren't questioning the authenticity of member of staff just completing paperwork.

This actually happened to me when I worked as a teacher! We were stranded in Lanzarote for an extra 5 days, due to the ash cloud. The Head wasn't too happy, especially as another teacher from our school was stranded on a different Canary Island and yet another in America. There was talk about taking advice from the Local Authority, but ultimately, we all were paid as normal and didn't have to "make the time up".

You need details of the flights that he was booked on and then information about if the return flight actually returned on time or any actual delay. This should be available from Flight Radar but you might need to sign up to a free trial depending on when it was.

www.flightradar24.com/data/flights

You can get weather history in the Dark Sky app.

If there's any suggestion that he's thrown a sickie and/or made up a story about a delayed flight to extend a holiday - perhaps to get cheaper flights as outside school holiday period, then presumably that would be a disciplinary matter, so you need to start with evidence about whether there has been any untruths and go from there.

If he's been honest, booked his holiday in the holiday period and then really been sick and really suffered a cancelled flight, then he'll be happy to provide his original booking details to prove his innocence, surely, unless he's one of those contrary 'I shouldn't have to co-operate' types.

I had this exact ting happen to me. My flight home from Las Vegas was delayed and I missed my first day back in Sept. that was an awkward conversation to have...

We were stranded abroad as my daughter had a middle ear infection and my boss gave me compassionate leave (paid). He wouldn't have dreamed of asking for proof, same as I wouldn't dream of taking the piss and lying.

Not a teacher but a while back we got bumped from a flight from the US which then meant a day late back after a half term.

My employer was fine as was DH’s and we were both paid, however we are both in senior positions and work many additional hours as salaried employees. The primary school for DC2 we’re fine, the secondary for DC1 were not so happy.

Having run teams and companies over my working life this does happen and I usually give people the benefit of the doubt, unless I have reasons to be suspicious. 3 days sick before and then a delay coming back would raise questions and be taken further.

@VanessaShanessaJenkins Insurance would only cover sickness absence and in most cases only after the first week and yes, some companies do require copies of the sick certificates. It's an administrative nightmare!

This is no different to a snow day or whatever. If you can't get to work, in most places you don't get paid.

In this particular instance I would expect to see proof of travel details etc, as it is a school.

OP, does this place start with a C? If yes, I was on the same flight this weekend and it was definitely delayed overnight because of the weather.