To think people shouldn't use annual leave if they can't get in due to bad weather?

[malificent7]

I was surprised to find out that is the law to use annual leave if there is bad enough weather to make travel dangerous. I had to use my annual leave to avoid my commute through a huge flood last year. We are having increased storms now.
Of course in an ideal world we would all work in the same town we love in but this is not always possible.

@Toucanfusingforme It was similar for me. Years ago I used to work for the Greater London Council so there were loads of offices in different departments spread across London. In really bad weather you were expected to walk to the nearest office. During the mid 70s when there were ongoing train strikes, coaches were organised to bring people into work from various pick up points if they lived 4 miles or more from Charing Cross. If you lived less than four miles, you were expected to walk if you couldn't get a bus, and you weren't generally allowed to take leave.

I think every workplace and every circumstance is different and companies should make their own decisions.

If anyone works hybrid then they are likely to ask to work at home if a weather warning is in place. That's solved a lot recently.

You should have the option to take unpaid leave if you prefer. Even if you have annual leave available.

It's a choice if unpaid leave, annual leave or make up the time with us. Saves people taking the piss

@Ohshutupcolinyoutwat I'm a district nurse. If we can't get to base we contact the base nearest to where we live and are expected to at least attempt to get to their essential patients (eg insulins, palliative) on foot

We have a list so all team leader know who lives locally to then

There's always things that can be done from home. Even if it's phoning patients and checking on them.

We have 'snow day' plans in place just in case where we will help the teams local to us and go on foot if driving is perilous

I'm a district nurse

I don't know about the law but my dh's company decided to close today (in a red zone) but said everyone would be taking unpaid leave and there was no option to work from home (about 75% couldn't work from home due to the engineering roles they do), so to make it fair nobody could.

Yes, of course it's legal.

Your employer can dictate when you take your annual leave.

In most cases they don't, but they have that right.

At our workplace if someone is unable to get to work then we are unable to bill the client (construction industry). Our policy says that employees must make every reasonable effort to get in but not take risks with their safety. If they are unable to then they may choose whether to use annual leave or take unpaid leave.

I'm sure the policy at our trust used to be you presentation your nearest hospital or clinic if you can't get to your actual place of work or get out on your visits. Not sure if this is still the case or not.

But there are people getting to work during these weather events. Healthcare professionals, care staff, fire and police staff. Council staff making things safe. Utilities staff doing their best to keep supplies on. If we accept that it should be law people should be paid to stay at home because it is too dangerous to go out what do we do about these people.

There's a difference between essential workers and someone going in to sit in an office, though.

Arguably, it's safer for the former if the latter stay home and don't risk driving in bad weather or dangerous roads.

Slightly off topic but when we had really bad snow once we were all sent home from the office at lunch time. I had a member of staff who was on annual leave and he asked for half a day back as everyone else had gotten a 'free' afternoon off!!

This has always been a thing. Every company I have worked for has done it like that. If you can't get in due to bad weather or something like a transport strike the options are:

1. Take it out of your annual leave allocation
2. Take it as unpaid leave
3. Make up the time on another day (at employers discretion).
4. WFH on that day (if possible, otherwise one of the above 3 apply)

If the weather was incredibly severe or there was an emergency situation that prevented almost all workers getting to work, the company might generously give the workers all a day off but for the odd worker who lived far away who couldn't get in, they would have to make it up or use annual leave. Commuting and weather issues are the problem of the employee, not the employer. That's always been the case.

Something that's not your fault is not the same as not your responsibility.

I used to have a colleague who was "unable" to get in during heavy snow. He got paid and didn't have to make up the time. This continued until we got a new manager who lived down the road from him. After that he was mysteriously able to get himself into the office during bad weather.

I think I phrased it badly. Yes, those who don't need to be out and about definitely make it much safer for those who have to be to be out and abour.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is if it was the law to pay people who couldn't get to work what is to stop the very essential face to face workers just saying they can't get in and demanding paid.

As with many HR things its very hard to make it fair for everyone whilst actually getting the work done that needs to. It was the same in COVID.

My workplaces used to give days off for major weather events without staff using annual leave , however this has been less common since wfh, people having laptops etc
I think it's down to individual company policy and sometimes managers discretion.
I do think for severe storms, hurricanes, snow etc work places should be understanding and not ask people to use their leave.
Especially if the work place is closed, I just heard in Northern Ireland supermarkets have closed - as they've made that decision I would expect staff rotad to work to get paid.

I had a red warning alert yesterday but I still managed to get to work. I called my boss after the alert and was informed my office wasn't closed. So I went to work granted I was allowed to leave 3hrs hours earlier. Every where in my region was closed due to said alert

Pre covid if the office was closed to staff, no leave needed to be used. I think an assessment was made based on the condition of the roads, the public transport situation and the condition of the site. Were once told we could leave if we wanted to - because the local busses had announced that they were going to stop running, but we used our own time if we left. Since covid, with people working from home (we use laptops anyway), it becomes irrelevant - snow makes no difference on ability to work. If people choose not to, then they use leave.

To a point I can see both sides. Someone may not have leave left to use, but has no safe way to get to work. However, this could have big impact on some companies.

I agree - being the person who always used to struggle in on foot to answer the phones!