At what point do you send staff home if it snows?

[DontAsk]

Norway - 387,207 sq km, Population 5.4 million = 38 people per square mile.
United Kingdom -246,610 sq km, Population 67 million = 700 people per square mile.

The harsh reality is that a bit of snow causes chaos just as a simple road accident does here in the UK because there are too many people and too many vehicles on the road.

Norway has nearly 4 times the snow that we do so preparation is a much higher priority.

It's the cost benefit analysis again. It's just not worth it for the few days snow we get in the UK.

 

[Mr D]

Everyone has turned up today as normal, the weather is getting worse and the snow is getting deeper.

People are getting nervous, so far I've said if anyone wants the afternoon as a holiday then we will allow that.

Any other advice guys?

If it starts snowing heavy I head home (if in the office that day). Boss is fine with that as its 2 hours trip normally anyway (3 plus hours in snow).
Would normally work from home any day heavy snow is expected but its possible I can be caught out in a different town.

 

[Mr D]

We don't have enough snow here for us to learn prepare and react
It is just not worth the time and money .
The last time I was effected by snowy issues was 2018 before that it was 2010
Those of us in the the South were not effected at all by this weeks weather event so snow training, snow boots ,snow tyres and 4x4s would be a waste.

That said this has been the worst winter I known for ice in Devon

Tyres I put Cross climates on a large van and a set on a car
They are usless on the van but good on the front wheel drive car

We can learn, prepare and react. Just not to a massive degree.
Clearing path to the car, salt, a travel kit in the car and so on. Easy to do.

Travel kit to include blankets / fleeces, food, water etc.

 

[HFE Signs]

If it starts snowing heavy I head home (if in the office that day). Boss is fine with that as its 2 hours trip normally anyway (3 plus hours in snow).
Would normally work from home any day heavy snow is expected but its possible I can be caught out in a different town.

That's great, unfortunately production staff can't work from home

 

[Mr D]

That's great, unfortunately production staff can't work from home

Yes, tad easier for some of us than others. Not all computer work can be done at home.
And not all businesses want to remote manage staff.

 

[paulears]

I remember the weather being really bad back in the 80s, when I was working for a firm with outlets all over two counties in small towns. It had been snowing really badly and many of the shops were closed because people phoned in to say they were stuck and couldn't get in. Many were the bigger ones in the larger towns. It was assumed that because of the snow, people would be paid, and I think the bosses were going to do this, until the Manager of the shop in Halesworth WALKED 8 miles through the drifts and opened the shop. It did make the people who had justr given up look a bit pathetic, so all those who didn't go in lost pay. Let's just say the Manager who walked through the huge drifts in the country lanes was not popular!

 

[Mr D]

I remember the weather being really bad back in the 80s, when I was working for a firm with outlets all over two counties in small towns. It had been snowing really badly and many of the shops were closed because people phoned in to say they were stuck and couldn't get in. Many were the bigger ones in the larger towns. It was assumed that because of the snow, people would be paid, and I think the bosses were going to do this, until the Manager of the shop in Halesworth WALKED 8 miles through the drifts and opened the shop. It did make the people who had justr given up look a bit pathetic, so all those who didn't go in lost pay. Let's just say the Manager who walked through the huge drifts in the country lanes was not popular!

My employer in the 1990s tried that tack. A staff member drove in almost a hundred miles to work - however he lived in a different town that didn't have any snow and was on motorway and A roads until the final half mile.
Those who couldn't get their car down their own streets, those who would drive to work on B roads and minor roads - could not get in. Well over a foot of snow and only main roads were even partly clear.
I walked in as could not get my car out. Over half the staff had to get the union involved and force management to back down over travel problems.

 

[Duke Fame]

Everyone seems to be yearning for a 'Snow Lockdown!' - And, of course 'Snow Furlough!'

But don't compensate business owners, they can fend for themselves!!!

 

[Bob Morgan]

But don't compensate business owners, they can fend for themselves!!!

Unless they're a bank!

 

[Mr D]

Unless they're a bank!

Why should the banks be any different?

 

[Duke Fame]

Why should the banks be any different?

It was a joke about the govt's willingness to bail out banks whilst other businesses go without support

 

[Financial-Modeller]

Many years ago I was one of three day rate contractors working on a project in an office in London among forty permanent employees.

We had a rare snowfall overnight and the three contractors - who would otherwise not be paid - used public transport where possible and/or walked into the office. Interestingly none of the permies - who got paid anyway - made it in because of the snow!

 

[Duke Fame]

Many years ago I was one of three day rate contractors working on a project in an office in London among forty permanent employees.

We had a rare snowfall overnight and the three contractors - who would otherwise not be paid - used public transport where possible and/or walked into the office. Interestingly none of the permies - who got paid anyway - made it in because of the snow!

Ha ha, it's said that the UK have found the cure for the common cold, it's called self - employment!!

 

[artsem]

What does bad weather mean for workers? Even a run-of-the-mill blizzard can shut down roads and delay or cancel transit service. When working from home isn’t an option based on the nature of the position (in the case of say waitstaff or retail clerks), what are the rules. It's important to have a work/life balance