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4:22 PM 9th January 2025
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Should You Skip The Office On A Snow Day?

Image by Kati from Pixabay
Image by Kati from Pixabay
Should you go to the office on a snow day? Expert shares what rights you have as employees if the cold is causing problems.

Temperatures are set to plummet to -16°C in some parts of the UK and the Met Office has issued several warnings, including a fresh 12-hour warning of snow for three regions across the UK.

Snow and ice act as a catalyst for other issues such as daycare closures, not wanting to leave pets unattended at home during the cold or transportation issues affecting your commute to work.

With numerous misconceptions and misunderstandings about employee rights during adverse weather conditions, Guy Thornton, Founder of Practice Aptitude Tests, explains what rights employees have if they are unable to get to work due to snow or ice.

Is there a law that allows me to stay home if it is snowing?

There is no legislation or provision that legally permits employees to stay home due to adverse weather conditions, whether it’s snow, extreme heat, or other weather events.

However, certain regulations may indirectly apply if heavy snow or extreme weather prevents you from working.

Workplace Regulations 1992

The Workplace Regulations 1992 establish minimum requirements for safe and healthy workplaces.

While the act does not specifically mention snow, the following principles are relevant:

Workplace safety: Employers must ensure the workplace is safe and free from risks. This includes maintaining clear pathways and entrances or removing snow and ice from areas employees use, such as car parks.
Temperature: Employers are required to maintain a reasonable indoor temperature. If snow disrupts heating systems or creates unreasonable working conditions, it could breach this regulation.

It is important to note that these regulations do not apply to travel to work. They focus solely on ensuring the workplace itself is safe, and it is the employer’s responsibility to address unsafe conditions.

What can I do if heavy snowfall prevents me from getting to work?

If you are unable to travel to work due to heavy snowfall, here are your options:

Request to work from home: According to ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), you can request to work from home or propose flexible working arrangements - however, this is at your employer’s discretion.
Take unpaid leave: If working from home or flexible arrangements are not possible, you may have to take unpaid leave.
Emergency scenarios: In certain cases, snow-related issues may qualify as emergencies. For example, if your child’s school is closed and you need to stay home, you may need to take unpaid leave or use one of your annual leave days.

Important Information to Know

Pay: Your employer is not legally required to pay you if you do not come into work due to weather conditions, unless stated otherwise in your contract or workplace policy.
Check your employee handbook: Familiarise yourself with your employee handbook or contract to understand what is already in place and how to handle these situations.
Communicate early: Inform your employer or manager of any disruptions as soon as possible, especially if you are experiencing travel difficulties.
Document issues: Keep a record of weather-related issues, including screenshots of warnings, travel cancellations, or inappropriate responses from your employer.

Travel Compensation

Most train operators will offer reimbursement for severe delays, but this can be more complicated for season ticket holders. In these cases, refer to the train operator’s Passenger Charter for information on how to claim compensation.