Winter travel advice for your staff

It is inevitable that you and your staff will face difficulties getting to and from work when either severe weather conditions, accidents close motorways or there are disruptions to public transport through strikes. Whilst the health and safety and wellbeing of all our staff is in the forefront of our minds, we must also ensure that the business runs effectively and are customers are not disadvantaged due to these external problems.

All staff have a contractual obligation to report for work regardless of the situation. Staff should therefore make every effort to get to work in all circumstances. When severe weather conditions or major disruptions to public transport are forecast in advance, take appropriate advice and allow extra time for your journey or make alternative travel arrangements if possible. Staff are expected to attend work on time and uacceptable absence or lateness may give rise to disciplinary action so it is important to discuss any concerns with management in advance.

Accepted Absence or Lateness

Naturally there will be occasions where even the best attempts to attend work will be in vain and in this case staff should contact their Manager as soon as possible to discuss the position.

For all staff who have genuinely used their best endeavours to attend work but are unable to do so or are late one of the following options may be offered:-

• Make up the time at a later date.

• Take any absence from work as part of that staff member's annual leave entitlement.

• Take any absence from work as special unpaid leave (in this case, that member of staff's pay will reduce accordingly to take account of the hours/days they have not worked).

• Be paid as if they had attended work on the day(s) of absence.

• Work from home or otherwise work remotely.

You as the company owner, manager or director reserve the right to allow different solutions to reflect an employee’s individual’s circumstances. You must take into consideration your staff's distance from home to work, their mode of transport and how viable it is for them to work from home, and on the needs of the Company.

Leaving Work Early to Avoid an Oncoming Risk

Where there is a risk to staff travelling safely home a manager will decide whether to allow staff to leave work early (and to make up the time at a later date if necessary). As a responsible employer you will again base your decision on staff members individual circumstances.

Find out more by watching the video!