Employers urged not to dock pay after adverse weather

Posted 03/12/2010

Employers across the UK have been urged not to dock the pay of their staff who have been struggling to get to work in this week’s snow and ice.

Mike Emmott from the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development said that even though business are entitled not to pay people who do not make it in, it is advisable to do so anyway in order to build strong employee relations.

“It’s important to show empathy with employees – particularly those who normally perform well – as research shows that this flexibility and trust will pay off in the long term,” he pointed out.

Brendan Barber from the Trades Union Congress also said he thinks staff should still be paid, particularly since the police have been advising against travel for much of the week.

Direct Gov recommends checking employment rights to find out what the procedures are for individual companies and suggests liaising with managers to see if working from home can be negotiated in poor weather.