HCS Business Matters
13th January 2010
Snowed In?
School closures, travel chaos and sub-zero temperatures continue to cause havoc for many UK businesses, as one of the most severe winters on record shows no signs of abating.
However, unlike the last severe winter of 1985 we now have the technology and facilities in place to enable employees to continue working – without having to risk a treacherous trip into the office.
Where people can work from home using wireless technology, mobile phones and blackberries there is a real opportunity to minimise the cost to businesses by promoting business as usual.
However, due to the nature of their businesses many employers will not be able to ask staff to work from home and will be forced to consider alternative options. In these cases, employers will need to make tough decisions as to how they can best manage those who have not been able to make the trip into work.
HCS highlights some of the key considerations for employers during these extreme weather conditions.
· Determine a consistent message across the organisation to deal with employees who cannot make it into work, backed up by relevant policies and procedures. HCS can help you develop the necessary policies, and communicate these effectively to all employees.
· If it is impossible for employees to attend work, then you'll have to decide if it is instead feasible for them to work from home. HCS can help you develop a Home Working policy for such an eventuality.
· Ensure employees follow the company’s standard absence reporting procedures. HCS can help you implement an Absence policy, or update your existing policies and procedures.
· Remember your duty of care with regards to the Health and Safety of your workforce.
· Ensure you have adopted a consistent approach, ideally written into employees' contracts, as to whether you will or will not pay your employees as a result of non-attendance at work due to the weather. HCS can help you update and amend any employee contracts to ensure they are fit for the purposes of your business.
Remember consistency is the key – all employees must be given the same treatment and same considerations to ensure fairness and equality at work.
14 January 2010, webeditor
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