Snow and ice have disrupted travel across the UK, with train and flight cancellations leaving many commuters unable to get to work yesterday (5 January).
The weather also forced hundreds of schools across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to close.
Yellow warnings for snow and ice remain in place across large parts of the UK. According to the Met Office, further snowfall is forecast later this week, with warnings stretching across much of the country.
Adverse weather inevitably poses HR challenges to employers, Kate Palmer, COO at HR consultancy Peninsula UK, told HR magazine.
“It’s important that the correct support is in place for employees who will have to commute in hazardous conditions or whose children’s schools face closure,” she added.
Palmer explained that employee safety is paramount. “If employees drive for work, carry out a route risk assessment and make sure that they have winter safety items in the car, such as snacks, water, a torch, a first aid kit, a waterproof jacket and extra layers of warm clothing.”
Sophia Zand, senior associate in the employment team at law firm Wilsons, added that employers have a duty to ensure the health and safety of their staff and should not encourage staff to travel in dangerous conditions.
Speaking to HR magazine, Zand suggested employers consider alternatives such as allowing staff to work from home or taking time off as a holiday.
She added that if the weather prevents employees from working, then “they will not be entitled to pay unless their contract says otherwise or there is a collective agreement or custom and practice to provide pay”.
Palmer suggested that flexible working should be considered for those who face challenges making it to work. “Note that employees are entitled to take unpaid time off for dependants if childcare arrangements break down due to school or nursery closures,” she added.
“If schools are closed or childcare is unavailable, employees have the right to take time off for dependants to look after children,” Zand added.
Phil Pinnington, head of audit and consultancy at charity British Safety Council, added that cold weather, snow and ice can pose significant risks to workers, affecting not only physical health but also increasing stress, job insecurity and economic vulnerability, particularly for those in outdoor or physically demanding roles.
Regulations state that the minimum temperature for working indoors should be at least 16°C or 13°C if much of the work involves rigorous physical effort, Pinnington told HR magazine. “The British Safety Council believes that safe working temperatures are a fundamental worker right,” he added.
“Ensuring that all workers have access to safe, comfortable, and manageable working conditions is not optional; it is a shared responsibility that requires coordinated action from employers, governments and international bodies,” Pinnington said.