AIBU to text my boss and ask if I have to go into the office tomorrow?

[TsunamiOfShit]

Another snow related one.

I work from home 50% of the time, the other 50% I'm in the office or on the road.

The office is 150 miles away from my house and we've got our monthly management meeting tomorrow.

It's not snowing where I am at the moment but it seems to be snowing heavily where my office is. I've looked up some towns along the road there and it's snowing at least half of the way, if not more.

So AIBU to text my boss now to ask if meeting is still on, or do I wait until I hear something and if not I just go despite the snow?

I have to set off at 5am and it's still going to be sub zero then.

It's the M25 and M4 I have to take.

I think you are being sensible - the general advice is not to travel if you don't have to and, as you have a home-working arrangement, you appear to have the option to be sensible.

Maybe instead of simply asking your boss whether you have to drive over, you should target your conversation instead: "I see the snow is quite bad in TOWN (where office is based), would it be possible to conference call into Monday's monthly meeting from home instead?"

You'll probably find that he hasn't made any decisions yet

I’m assuming you can join meeting via conference phone? I would suggest that to be honest, much better than setting off and getting stuck.

Of course, why didn't I think of that! I'll ask him if I can join via Skype rather then ask if I need to come in or not.

Yes, don't ask if you 'need' to come in because that suggests that you could if necessary. "Skype or work from home. Those are the options, boss, pick one.".

Not worth the risk of travelling if you don't have to.

Since official advice is ' no unneccesary journeys' then yes, I would be advising my ma aged that I would be adhering to police and the transport ministry's advice and I would be joining the meeting via Skype! ( and I would have my pajama bottoms on a a small act of rebellion!!)

It’s 6 inches deep here just on the outskirts of Birmingham. It’s been snowing all day and is forecast to continue snowing. I certainly wouldn’t travel 150 miles in this. I’ve cancelled a meetin in the city centre purely because I can’t be sure that I will be able to get Home if I do get into town.

I’m due to be travelling 100 miles tomorrow from West Mids to North West for a promotion interview, I’ve emailed the interview panel today to ask if I can Skype if there are no trains

It's not actually snowing where I am though which is my I'm feeling a bit silly for not going in. It's just snowing where I'm going.

Also of course worrying if I'd be able to get home tomorrow night and what to do if the schools shut and I'm 150 miles away and can't pick them up. (Can call in favours but would prefer not to.)

I'll leave it til 6pm and then text him.

Skype sounds like the perfect solution. I think it's difficult to appreciate how bad it is in the Midlands/southern England/Wales if you're not there - we have hardly any snow in Leeds, which is a relief and a disappointment at the same time.

Presumably some of the other attendees will struggle to get to the meeting even if they live locally so I wouldn't feel bad about not wanting to make the journey.

One of my colleagues live in Birmingham but he's the type of person who will get there regardless. So it'll look really bad if he gets there and I don't!

Yes but he's not 150 miles from home if you get stuck.

Offer your practical solution to the genuine problem and stop worrying.

M4 and bottom of M25 are fine at the moment with gritters out in force ( just driven Somerset to Kent) however, was snowing up as far as Reading so may be worse in the morning.

Thing is, you're not going to be able to contact your boss at 5am. Just say due to current road conditions, the current severe weather warning and the warning that it's expected to turn to ice overnight, you will not be able to attend the meeting in person.