Adverse Weather

In times of severe adverse weather conditions, we understand there may be some challenges with transport, school arrangements etc. Whilst the Company is committed to protecting the health and safety of all of its colleagues, it must ensure that disruption caused to its services remains minimal. The purpose is to outline your responsibilities for attendance at work during severe weather conditions or when there are disruptions to public transport and to define appropriate procedures.

When do adverse weather conditions apply?

Should severe weather conditions occur or disruptions to public transport, either at the start of or during a working day, the management teams will monitor the situation and get advice on the weather conditions and/or the advisability of travel. On the basis of the advice received, a decision will be made on whether or not the adverse weather conditions apply. If they do not apply, you will be expected to attend work on time and lateness or absence may give rise to further action being taken under the absence management procedure. If they do apply, you should follow the procedure set out below.

Reasonable Effort

Lateness

Absence

You should use your best endeavours to attend work in all circumstances, however, it is not the company’s intention that you put yourself at unnecessary risk when trying to attend work. You should use your own judgment and, if you are unable to attend work, you should contact your duty manager/line manager as soon as reasonably practicable and preferably a minimum of 2 hours prior to the start of your shift.

If you are delayed, you will have the opportunity to make up this time at a later date, however, it is open to your Line Manager to waive this requirement if the lateness is negligible having regard to the severity of the weather conditions or disruptions to public transport and your personal circumstances (e.g. distance from your home to work and the mode of transport used). If lateness amounts to half the time of your normal working day, the provisions in relation to absence will apply.

If you made all reasonable efforts to get to work but failed to do so because of severe weather conditions or disruptions to public transport, your Line Manager will make a decision as to whether or not you should:

be given permission to work from home (if you have a position which would enable this);
take the time as annual leave; or
make up for the time at a later date.

A decision will be made by your Line Manager on whether or not it is appropriate for you to leave work early and may require colleagues who leave work early to take work home with them as appropriate.

Your circumstances (e.g. distance from your home to work and the mode of transport), your views and the needs of the company will be taken into account when making any of these decisions.

Health and Safety

While the company will ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all its colleagues, you are reminded of your duty to take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions. This includes taking extra care when travelling to and from work in severe weather conditions.

The company recognises that severe weather particularly affects colleagues whose job involves driving or working outdoors. The company will undertake regular risk assessments to ensure that colleagues working in these conditions are properly instructed, provided with the appropriate clothing and equipment and given sufficient rest breaks.