You shouldn't be driving to the office when there will be a red weather warning

[mandydandy]

We are in the north east of Scotland. Tomorrow is supposed to be an Amber weather warning for wind and rain most of the day. Later it will apparently be even worse and turning to a red weather warning.
I suggested to my DH that he should maybe work from home tomorrow.
However, his bosses have said they need everyone in the office for a big project. Not likely to get home before the weather warning goes red either.
DH has to drive a pretty awful road to get home. Any other routes would have even more trees and are really twisty.
Surely they should work from home if the weather is going to be that bad?

Is there any way he can join the meeting remotely? My employer has a bad weather policy. Says you need to make reasonable effort to get in but to wfh if you can't make it in safely. Similarly they have a responsibility to let you go early to get home safely... he could ask if such a thing exists. My work involves being out on the road a lot though which may be why we have that.

I wouldn't risk it and yanbu. I remember having to turn back trying to get out on visits before because huge tree branches were coming down around my car. It was pretty hairy. If the roads around you aren't great then I'd source an alternative route or an alternative to going in. Employer has a duty of care to their employees. If they aren't likely to follow through your dh needs to join a union.

Definitely do not go in. Not sure if you’re north or south of Aberdeen but the fact that all Angus schools have already announced early closure tomorrow and closure on Friday, and the Shire schools are starting to announce closures (inc town centre schools in Inverurie, so not really rural schools either) is indicative of how seriously this needs to be taken. Anyone who has lived in that area for long enough knows that schools don’t close in advance very often (we’ve all sat waiting for the 8am updates!) so this is serious.

I know what you're saying OP, but many have to travel because they work in jobs that can't be done from home or just shut down for the day.
I think perhaps your DH's employer should consider working on the project on Teams or similar if possible for the day

It’s irresponsible and my company would insist people WFH (where possible)

You are absolutely correct. The rainfall accumulations will be significant and flooding could be fatal, especially on the roads. I understand it can be hard to make these decisions on an amber warning but this couldn’t be clearer.

I am in Montrose and we got instructed to WFH tomorrow if we wish but especially so on Friday.

It's going to be the worst over Angus so yes, if we can we should WFH. What are H & S like in his company?

@mandydandy pm me. I also work in an oil company and I'm thinking it could be same one! Directive was to WFH

Are your local schools closing tomorrow OP? Think last time we went Red in Ireland they all did, N&S.

In fact, you say oil company and they are always SAFETY FIRST. I imagine they will change their mind because so many people will be questioning them.

NESCOL have closed all courses for Thursday & discussing Friday. Waiting for an update from Aberdeen Uni. Holiday clubs near us have closed for both days.

Roads will be horrendous. Trains will cancel again. Buses debateable.

Your dh's boss is an idiot. I would refuse to go in.

Have Pmed you

Yanbu.
The met office don't issue red warnings lightly. Risk to life, no one should be going out without a breathtakingly important reason. The emergency services will be stretched as it is.

When we had the red snow warning 13 years ago I went home early. My boss was really pissed off but I could make the work up amd I stuck to my guns. Guess who was snuggled up by 5pm and guess who was stuck in gridlocked traffic until 2am. Silly cow, I still feel smug about that.

We're in the same area and will be working from home. The schools are also shutting at lunchtime tomorrow until Monday. Can he go in for just the morning then wfh? Not that he should have to go at all but maybe that could be a compromise.

His boss is being ridiculous, been on all the bulletins not to travel. No job is worth risking your life.

I don't know, schools in Angus are closing at lunchtime and the warning isn't until 6pm so could he not go in and come home before then?

Trains are suspended in the amber/red zones from beginning of service tomorrow, buses will likely be the same. Schools closing too. You are absolutely not being unreasonable.

Can’t they do it on Teams?

Similar happened to me eons ago during Teaching Practice. The College buses didn't come, the snow was horrendous, so I walked down to the station from our flat, got the train to Skipton, walked up through the park to be met by an astonished Head who told me that the school was closed as hardly any pupils or staff could get in!

Irresponsible, we had an email round the Scottish offices today reminding people that they should work from home if it’s safest and to not travel to site visits if it’s unsafe. The trains are already cancelled for the next 48hours, that should be a pretty clear clue to them!

We're in that area, DH is a bus driver and they've been told to go into work tomorrow as usual.

I work in an Aberdeen City school. We are on holiday so it’s not an issue but if school was on I’d absolutely be expected to be in on a red weather warning as would all of our pupils

I am in the same area and industry although off work this week. My advice would be if he really feels he has to go in just go in the morning and ensure he leaves at lunch time to WFH in the afternoon. Should not be driving in a red warning especially on rural roads.

I am due to drive to Angus tomorrow morning and will be checking the forecast before I leave.

Could he go in really early and leave at lunchtime? No way my employer would make us travel though.

"Meanwhile, Police Scotland has urged people to avoid any form of travel during the period of the red weather warning. Driving conditions are expected to be extremely dangerous with disruption and significant delays"

Few years ago, my boss made me stay late to a meeting, which left my travelling in a Red Warning. My train hit a tree that had fallen into the track … it’s not a noise or sensation I’ll forget. The front of the train was stoved in, no idea how the driver survived.

I no longer travel in red warnings

I’m in Aberdeen and anyone who lives outside immediate office vicinity is wfh tomorrow. You don’t have to go very far outside the city to get very rural very quickly! Your H should refuse.