Can you be sacked for not being able to get into work due to the snow

[McNewPants2013]

I know this is the wrong section.

However my husband works is barely accessible in snowy weather. A lorry that attempted to go down the road jack knived and also a bus has slid off the side of the mountain in the last few days.

I am worried about his job if he needs to take more time off.

In short no, but it here isn't any obligation for them to pay him. However, if there are other underlying issues with absence he should do everything he possibly can to make it in. Is it a walkable distance?

But it here = but there

Do you mean the place of work is inaccessible or where you live is bad?

(Sorry that was really poorly worded but hope you catch my drift!)

Are other people making it in?

I would assume it would depend on the amount of time taken off and for what reasons previously given. Whether there has been a disciplinary hearing or warning/s given already

Usual Monday/Friday patterns with regularity - maybe. One day off in 5 years, unlikely

Whether other people can get in or not isn't always relevant - some people's homes get far more inaccessible than others. However, the employer might feel that, as there was a lot of warning of bad weather this time, your H should have triedto make other arrangements ie staying with friends or family who live nearer the workplace, or booking a B&B.

According to the BBC News this morning - no. However, you are not necessarily entitled to be paid.

DH's work snow policy states that if you live within 4 miles you are expected to walk in.

My school's policy states that you should try to again and if you can't and school is open then you may not be paid, however this is on an individual basis and also at the head's discretion.

We couldn't get our cars out yesterday, even DH's car which is 4wd though normal car size/big big 4x4 type. The buses were cancelled. My school is just over 4 miles, 10y DD's school is about 4 miles, DH's work about 5.5 miles. We walked. It took a fair while and I can't say it was overly present. But we did all get in, though I was almost an hour late. It was quite clear to me that I was expected to be there. I'm suffering now though - have arthritis and my knee keeps swelling up and my hands and knee are all very painful and now limping. But hey ho!

It's a 25 miles and people who are closer are getting in but no work is being done as the lorries can't be loaded.

Didn't expect paying, just worried about his job.

Only 2 sickness in 6 years both covered by a doctors note

4 miles? In the snow and dark? (assuming it is dark when he finishes work) wow...

And book a B&B? That will probably cost more than you'd earn that day.

Sorry to drip feed but he starts work at 6am so no bus service running, we did look on travel line and by bus it would take 2.5 hours on a normal day

Policy in my office is that you either work from home, take holiday or, where applicable, use parental leave.

I think in the circumstances you describe if the did sack him for taking a snow day they are on a hiding to nothing and I would have them down an employment tribunal quicker than the snow could melt.

I would imagine they will expect him to take it as annual leave.

4 miles walk in the snow? What about having to get DC to childcare and then back again?

Snow days are taken as short notice holiday or unpaid although we also pay depending on the circumstances.

In your situation I wouldn't be worried and sacking some one isn't that easy today because of all the HR hoops we have to jump through.

DH has been encouraged not to attempt to get to work unless he can do so easily (6mile walk, and we're in a hilly area, and he starts at 6 anyway), as his employers count anyone injured in snow as a DART injury.

Well we walked 4 miles in the snow, along with 10y DD. The walk there wasn't great but it was manageable albeit slowly. Not possible with a much younger child though, or with a buggy.
I did say I didn't want to walk back again though - would be almost all uphill so double as hard. We ended up getting a lift home with one of DD's friends who have a big 4x4.
Dh has done the walk home before, a couple of years ago, when the snow was really deep. It took him quite a while. But he managed it. He did leave a little earlier than normal and did stop in the pub half way for a quick whisky to warm him uo, lol!

Re. childcare or schools being closes, or injury/disability - even when caused by snow these are covered by other policies - the childcare one is covered in same way as any other time when you have childcare issues such as a child being poorly. They do also let people talk last minute holidays. But also take every case individually an treat everyone based on the actual circumstances.

But they did have to have an official policy as in the past they had some staff take advantage for a few days whenever there was any snow at all.

My school I found harder as there was just a blanket expectation to get in regardless. TBH after the pain in my knee since doing it next time I may just say no, stay home and tell them to just dock my pay and discipline me if necessary!

Employers discretion.

Many no longer pay for snow days as it doesn't incentivise those who make the effort if their colleagues get a gratis day off. I was mighty upset 2 years ago when I struggled into work to hear that a colleague who lives just up the road from me had phoned in due to snow.

1. She could have asked me for a lift
2. Her car is actually better in snow than mine.....

It was considerably more than a 4 mile walk though. Try 40 miles!