TEMPERATURES have plummeted across the UK as households brace for a -6C freeze.
Yellow weather warnings for ice have been issued for southern England and south Wales today and tomorrow as the cold snap hits.
It’s important to know your rights if you can’t get into work due to snow
But anyone looking forward to a snow day should double-check their work contract to see if they get paid for time off.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Where is it snowing in the UK?
Temperatures dropped below freezing overnight with snow falling in the south of England today.
Ice and snow is already causing delays on roads and railways, with pedestrians and cyclists urged to watch their step.
Two yellow weather warnings have already been issued in the last 24 hours, with one coming into force at 4am for Kent, Surrey, Sussex and London.
Another came into force for the whole of southern England and south Wales at 3pm.
Can I take the day off work if it snows?
Your boss can’t force you to travel to work if it’s dangerous, but they usually don’t have to pay you either.
If it’s possible to work from home, you will probably have to, and if not you could be asked to take unpaid leave, annual leave or to make up the hours another time.
You might even be asked to travel into another office that has not been so badly affected by the weather.
Different companies have different rules, so make sure you check your office handbook and contract carefully to see what the extreme weather policy is.
Of course, if you genuinely can’t get in you should let your boss know as early as possible.
If my office is closed due to the snow, do I have to take a holiday day?
If your office decides to shut but you were ready and able to go in, the company can’t dock your pay.
They shouldn’t be able to make you take holiday either, as employers normally have to give you at least two days’ notice before they can force you to take annual leave.
You should also get paid in full if your employer reduces your hours due to weather, and if the staff who provide access to your building are unable to get in.
In a nutshell – if you’re ready, willing and available to work, but can’t because of a problem that’s caused by your employer, they usually have to pay you in full.
Check your contract carefully though, as some workplaces may have different policies.
Can you take a day off work if it dips below a certain temperature?
Generally speaking, you can’t take time off just because it’s cold.
But employers do have a legal requirement to provide a reasonable level of comfort without the need for special clothing.
The law doesn’t define what the minimum and maximum working temperatures should be, but Health and Safety Executive guidelines say offices should be at least 16 degrees or a minimum of 13C if the work “involves rigorous physical effort”.
So if your office is dropping below those temperatures, you have a case for working from home.
But ultimately, it’s down to your employer.
ACAS says employers should consider relaxing dress codes to allow warmer clothing, allow extra breaks to make hot drinks and consider alternative heating sources such as portable radiators.
It’s also up to your boss to do everything they possibly can to restrict exposure and reduce draughts.
Advice given to employers also includes considering the possibility of flexible working hours or rotas to help reduce the effects of a cold snap.
What should I do if my children’s school has closed due to the snow and I have to miss work to look after them?
Legally, you’re allowed to take time off work to look after dependents, such as children, in emergency situations.
These could include:
if school is closed and a worker cannot leave their child
when caring arrangements for a disabled relative are cancelled
if a partner is seriously injured as a result of bad weather.
This time will be unpaid unless your contract or office policy says otherwise.
You need to let your employer know as soon as possible.
Make sure that you explain you are taking the time to look after a dependent and explain what the issue is and how long the absence is likely to be.
Anyone with worker status rather than employee status will need to come to an arrangement with their employer.
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