Taking a Snow Day?
Taking a Snow Day?
As we move into February, the colder weather is giving rise to heavy snowfall in some parts of the country, creating disruption to normal working days. For some, the weather may even lead to their main place of work having to close due to accessibility or working conditions.
In that situation, and if your employer does not support home working, you may be entitled to full pay for the duration of the closure. According to Gov.uk: “If the workplace is closed because of disruption and the employee doesn’t usually work from home, employers can’t usually deduct pay.”
If your workplace is still open but your child’s school is closed due to the weather, employees legally have the right to time off, as this is considered an official emergency - “If an employee’s child’s school is closed or their normal childcare arrangements are disrupted, they could have the right for time off to look after them,” the website reads. However, time off to care for children may or may not be paid, as the government website states: “your employer may pay you for time off to look after dependants but they don’t have to.”
The same applies if you are unable to get to work, but your normal place of work (or a similar local office) remains open. Your employer cannot force you to make the journey to work, nor can they insist you take paid leave to cover the time off, as this usually requires at least 2 days notice to be given (unless you receive more than the statutory 28 days annual leave per year). But your employer can decide whether or not to pay you.
The Beast from the East may still return, but thankfully for employers and employees alike, Spring is just around the corner!