AIBU to think SIL should be paid?

[KatieKittens]

A close friend’s workplace was closed for two days last week due to the weather. Today she has been told by her boss that she will have to take the days as annual leave or not be paid at all. She planned to use her annual leave on a family holiday. Her alternative is to forego her wages for the days she didn’t work, but with children to support that’s not an option either. AIBU to think that she should be getting paid because the building she worked in actually closed? I have a feeling this isn’t right, but don’t know her legal rights.

Check with the experts on the Employment Board but I think that if they were close sedmso she couldn’t work even if she wanted to then yes, she should be paid

This might help www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2797

Is the company's policy documented?

Edit: The friend is also my SIL, didn’t want to go into too much unnecessary detail, but realise I mentioned our relationship in thread title!

I work for a local authority and the same thing happens to us. If our workplace is shut (a library) for reasons beyond our control (fire, not enough staff, flooding etc) we have to take leave. Seems u fair if you are available to work.

Thanks, I’ve had a look at the ACAS link and I’m interpreting it as she should be getting paid? But if reup works for a LA and doesn’t get paid, then the same probably applies to most workplaces

AFAIK this is the correct policy unless it is stated otherwise in her contract, it’s shit though!

If the workplace closed and she wasn’t able to do any work from home, then the onus is on the workplace to pay her not take it as holiday or unpaid

We were closed for 3 days last week. All staff employed directly by the school are being paid, but any staff employed by outside agencies are not being paid. So that's all the cleaners, lunchtime supervisors, etc, ie our lowest paid staff who can least afford the lack of money. It's absolutely appalling! But technically I don't think it's illegal. It's shit though :(

There’s usually a clause in an employment contract that states the employer can dictate when annual leave is taken subject to a specified notice period (typically 1 week). It’s unlikely that the employer would have given this notice and therefore cannot force your SIL to use holiday.

All covered here www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43232498

She is entitled to be paid because they closed her workplace.

I believe employer has to pay her since he closed the office. He cannot make her take the days as holidays or unpaid leave as it was his decision to close the office.

I thought it was the case that it's double the notice of the days they want you to take.

Thanks all. It’s rubbish, but think she will be taking the days as annual leave.