Rank: Forum user 
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Hi All
I am just after some feedback regarding a "Snow-Day Policy" from individuals who work for companies which have implemented such a policy or similar??
I have been involved in a meeting where the MD is looking at not paying or reducing payment to employees who do not turn up to work due to adverse weather. I fully understand the implications should such a policy exist and an employee be involved in an accident because they have no "Option" but to try and get in as they can not afford to miss work.
But before it finds its way down to the H&S department for discussion I just wanted to understand of anyone who has experience with working/implementing such a policy.
Any views/feedback examples etc most welcome
Thanks
Simon
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Rank: Super forum user
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Never been involved in such a policy simply because it has not been addressed. I cannot understand why any company would want to develop a snow-day policy in the first place. Would this lead to a motorway closed policy or even a rail stike policy? The company should consider how it manages any absence because of weather conditions or other problems affecting staff ability to attend work. This is HR topic rather than H&S, it is aboput not being able to attend work for whatever reason and can only be judged on the circumstances that exist on the day. However, if you need to develop a policy on when your company would pay wages or not this should be covered again by HR not H&S.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks Bob
Fully understand its a HR job - but as with most MD`s they will see an huge impact on business and will look at all options to prevent reoccurance of finacial loss.
I just wanted some feedback in case someone out there has come across such a policy
Thanks
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Rank: Forum user 
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I totally agree with what Bob has said - however, the OP asked if we had any experience of such a policy, so to answer the original question...
Where I am, if you don't get in (for snow, or any other reason except sickness etc), it's either annual leave or you make up the time. Making up the time in very small chunks over an extended period is permitted.
Arguments against this policy - it discriminates against those who cannot work at home because of the nature of what they do (e.g. building maintenance teams). They end up losing leave when it wasn't their fault they couldn't get in. Staff who can work from home don't lose leave, they just work from home.
Arguments for this policy - if you don't do this, people who could work from home will just say "why should I work from home on a snow day when other people are just having a day off without any cost to themselves".
Personal opinion - I respect both of these viewpoints. If it were down to me I'd allow the line managers some flexibility, an employee who's spent five hours on a stranded train trying to get in to work may feel aggrieved to be treated the same as someone who's looked out of the window, seen some snow and gone back to bed.
And on a VERY personal note (and with tongue in cheek), what about the employee who COULD work from home if only IT would get their fingers out and supply them with the kit?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Hi Simon,
In Brief, ours is;
We will send staff home if conditions are worsening and we are concerned about peoples ability to get home safely. If we do this we will pay them for the rest of the day.
If you can't get in in the first place, you must either agree to work from home with your line manager (subject to role and ability to do so) or take it as unpaid leave.
I think this is a fair balance (remembering that it's not the employers responsibility if people can't afford to take unpaid time off). Personally, I couldn't afford the time off but luckily can work from home occasionally.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks Smurf and Co
Its a hot subject and would cause a tidle wave of frustration but i thought i would see what is out there
Thanks
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Rank: Super forum user
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point to note bearing Paul's comment. When I work from home it's using my own IT kit! So it does actually cost me to work from home.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Simon - I have recently written and implemented such a policy, which had the support of our staff forum, Union and Management team and board. PM with e mail address if you would like sight of.
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Rank: Forum user
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Safety Smurf wrote:point to note bearing Paul's comment. When I work from home it's using my own IT kit! So it does actually cost me to work from home. If only! I guess I should've explained - I'm Civil Service and our security rules are that working from home can only be on approved machines with encrypted hard drives, and an encrypted remote access to our secure servers, etc. I have once managed a day's work from home using my ownmachine, but it was a day when I was able to justify a lot of insecure internet research and perusing of professional journals!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Paul Duell wrote:Safety Smurf wrote:point to note bearing Paul's comment. When I work from home it's using my own IT kit! So it does actually cost me to work from home. If only! I guess I should've explained - I'm Civil Service and our security rules are that working from home can only be on approved machines with encrypted hard drives, and an encrypted remote access to our secure servers, etc. I have once managed a day's work from home using my ownmachine, but it was a day when I was able to justify a lot of insecure internet research and perusing of professional journals! I can only access my works email server from home, everything else is done by memory stick!
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