Not turning up for work

[smoldragon]

So I'm in the south and I'm an office cleaner. (self employed) We've had a couple of inches of snow here and the roads immediately around me are ungritted and involve a hill to get out of the village.

I don't want to just not do the work. I'm a little anxious about explaining myself to the two companies tomorrow, that's on top of the money I'll lose. However we just tried to get out of the village and head for the main road and the car went side ways enough for us to think it was a bad idea. I also don't want to be driving because it's not really essential is it? I don't know I've never missed work and I've been cleaning for them 3-4 years.

Would you think badly of me? It's only a ten minute drive away, (which they would know) The walk has taken me an hour before which I would have done but I don't have any boots.

Am I being unreasonable not to go? Would anyone help me pen a short email of apology?

Thanks, this is my first ever post, hope you are all keeping warm and safe out there too.

Of course you shouldn’t snd you don’t need help with an email as your post was very clear. Send them that and have a and a

Not unreasonable. If you can’t get out, you can’t. Write something like ‘unfortunately due to the severe weather I will be unable to reach your offices to clean them tomorrow.’ Do you clean once a week or daily? If the former, you could add an offer to do an extra session as soon as the weather lifts.

I've told my cleaner not to come because I don't want her risking the journey. I'm sure your employer will understand! You're obviously usually reliable so they will know you aren't taking the mick.

Thank you all. It puts my mind a bit more at ease! I'm one of those people who would just turn the situation over and over in my mind to no real use! I clean daily and can do it the evening before or in the morning. I don't Think it will clear for tomorrow though. It's still coming down now.

We told our office cleaners not to come in tonight (We are in a red zone and shut the office at 12pm). Loaded up the dishwashers squirted some bleach down the loos and left. No one will die because the bins dont get emptied or the desks dusted. If you have keys just go in when it is safe for you to do so. People are more important than things.

You're right not to go. Just follow whatever procedure is in place for reporting absence.

In your email keep it simple. Say that you tried to drive to work and have narrowly missed an accident when the car slid on ice. Because of this it would be dangerous for you to continue the drive and you have no other way to get in.

Make sure you apologise for the inconvenience because that helps to keep people on your side.