News

December 13, 2011 - Anonymous

Employers’ guide aims to minimise winter disruption

Employers can access free guidance on management problems that arise during the winter months – from travelling to work in adverse weather to sickness absence – following the publication of an online guide by Acas.

With severe winds of up to 130mph having already battered Scotland and northern England this month, Acas warned businesses to plan early to prevent further disruption. Their key tips included:

• Employees are not automatically entitled to pay if unable to get to work because of bad weather.
• Have a clear policy – employees need to know what you expect from them in terms of getting to work.
• Be flexible where possible – for example, employees might agree to temporarily alter their working hours to minimise disruption.

“Winter often brings dilemmas for employers – adverse weather conditions can mean staff shortages due to travel disruption, and seasonal celebrations often result in a stampede to book annual leave,” said Acas guidance editor Adrian Wakeling.

“We all know it’s going to happen, but how many of plan in advance? Have clear policies around issues such as getting to work and taking leave requests and communicate those to staff now.”

• Access Acas’ guidance for employers on winter disruption