If you read my comment again, I wasn't taking issue with either side in terms of what was said - but I'll repeat for emphasis; it is the manner in which some choose to deliver their message. e.g. Saying to someone "Don't be daft" is essentially saying to that person that they are being an idiot, when essentially you could make the point that you do not agree with their opinion without directly calling into question their intellectual capacity.

We are going to get clobbered for deviation soon. And that is actually one reason why the manner of making comments is important IMO. If I write or say things like ‘don't be daft’ or ’engage brain before typing’ or ‘get a life’ then I am saying that I think you are daft to hold the opinion that you do or have acted in a stupid way. The presence or not of any malice in that statement is irrelevant; I mean it otherwise I wouldn't write or say it. Whether malice exists can only be discerned in context. Context on a forum? That I suggest is the perception of those that have commented previously. If I don’t know you and I feel that you have called my intellectual capabilities into doubt in a public place, what do I do? I am sure most would want to respond and the topic gets hijacked (yes I know I am too). However, if the method I use, my solution to the problem or the requested knowledge or information is simply stated without judging the other side then -----people are more likely to hear me. They are not missing my point and only hearing my judgement of them. P48

Righto, up here in Scotland (where the red alert was issued), ALL trains were suspended in the morning with only a few running again later in the day. Central Station in Glasgow was closed as part of the glass roof was damaged by flying debris and most of the bridges were closed for a couple of hours at least. This all happened at rush hour in the morning so a lot of people didn't get into work as there was very little public transport running to actually get you there [I was off anyway that day so was nice and toasty in the house!]. I did send an email to the local offices suggesting the monitor the weather but most staff either made alternative travel arrangements / used VC or used their local office and the work continued. It's not rocket science - if you need to travel, advise staff monitor the local reports as they'll give details of any road closures etc. Until the next blast of freezing air and Met office warning....

Exactly. People have to make their own decisions. Not issuing blanket bans on driving in poor conditions.

Nonsense. I just don't think banning people from driving or shutting factories down in bad weather is a sensible option. More likely you just decide you don't like certain people on the forum and so will criticise them whatever they say. You have criticised me twice in the space of a few minutes on the forum. Well done.

Which pretty much proves my point.

Hello.... Not logged in for a little while as I've been away from work, but wow....what a response! :-) I do appreciate all the comments and I think having waded my way through most of them there is a sensible policy to be had on this one. Similar to one of the earlier posters, we are in South Wales where a Red Alert was issued for snow which resulted in approx. 6 members of staff turning up (out of an expected 60ish). All those who turned up were within walking distance. So for us, it is a real situtation we have to deal with and manage as best we can. Thanks again, Amy