Employees attendance during the snow

Many employers are having to face decisions about what to do about employees who don't make it in to work during the bad weather.  Do you have to pay them?   What are others doing?

Employees can reasonably be expected to do their best to get into work on foot.  Where employees are genuinely unable to get in and this can be demonstrated to the employer then decisions will have to be made about what to do. You will need to consider all your options and make sure you have a consistent approach against all employees.  Things to consider?

- can you use your discretion to grant special leave?
- will you require the employee to take the time as holiday?
- do you consider this "time off for domestic disturbance" which is then unpaid leave?

Equally, it is important that you do not encourage employees to risk life or limb to get into work and you do have a duty of care towards them.   Consider allowing extra time to get to work where people have to drive and to leave early if conditions worsen and don't insist they take journeys which may be dangerous.

Whatever decision you make please be consistent as there is nothing more demotivating for employees to be treated differently at times like this.