If an employee cannot attend work due to snow or some other sort of adverse weather conditions are they entitled to be paid for the day?
Some argue that is not their fault and they should still be paid. Some argue that to pay them when others have made it into work is unjust. We can all probably site examples where some workers have made it through the snow and other seem unable to make it through with the minimal amount of snow. There is no legal right to payment for such days as the general rule is no work, no pay. However, there may be a contractual term in a contract or policy, implied over time through custom and practice or as a result of collective bargaining whereby the employer will provide payment is these circumstances. An alternative may be where the employee agrees to take holiday instead.
The matter may be further complicated by dependants where for example a school closes during the day due to bad weather or where there is an unexpected disruption in the care arrangements for the child.
Written by
Edward Aston
6th February 2015