What happens if staff can’t get to work in a storm?

Running a business is difficult at the best of times. But extreme weather, such as the recent Storm Éowyn, can really throw a wet and windy spanner in the works.

So, what do you do when your employee shows up late or can’t make it to work because of bad weather? Luckily we're here to give you the lowdown on how to compliantly manage staff lateness and absences.

What do I do when employees can’t make it to work?

When storms strike it can wreak havoc on your staff's commute. Be it by car, train, or bus, BrightHR's data shows lateness can spike by as much as 30 minutes or more during severe weather.

So, how do you handle the downpour of staff lateness? First off, make sure you have an easy way for your employees to let you know if they’re going to be late to work. For example, introducing digital absence management software or a clocking-in app can be an effective way for you to easily see who’s in, who’s MIA, and who’s late to their shift.

Some reasons for lateness are more than fair—poor weather and travel disruption included! But having software to record instances of lateness can help you track and manage recurring issues in a reasonable way.

For instant advice on this topic, ask our superfast AI tool, Brainbox: ‘What do I do about lateness?’

When to let people work from home

Just because your staff can’t make it into work, doesn’t mean it’s a day off! In a nutshell, there is no statutory entitlement for an employee to be paid if they can't attend work because of extreme weather. Anything extra will need to be negotiated between you and the employee.

Allowing employees to work from home might not suit every business, that's understandable—but it’s one policy you might want to consider to keep things running smoothly if your employees are having trouble battling the elements on their way to or from work. Or, alternatively, you might want to consider fast-tracking annual leave requests on stormy days in which case your staff will still be paid.

The Workplace Relations Commission recommends that your business should take a long-term view of the working relationship—treat your staff fairly and it can be a better working environment for everyone, and we think that's sound advice.

For more info on this topic, try asking Brainbox: ‘What happens if my employee can’t get to work because of storms?’

What do I do if I have to close because of severe weather?

We’ve talked about what happens if your employee can’t get to you. But what do you do if the weather is so severe you can’t open your business?

Fingers crossed it doesn't come to this—but if you can’t open your business due to the extreme conditions that the lovely Irish weather throws our way, then the law steps in.

If your business is unable to open the premises because of severe weather, then there is a legal requirement for your staff to be paid. The law dictates that your staff can't be penalised for your decision to close, and any non-payment will be classed as unlawful deduction of wages.

It's also worth mentioning that if public transport shuts down due to the severe weather, you have an obligation as an employer to ensure your staff don't put themselves in danger coming to or from work. Be careful if choosing to discipline or dismiss employees who are late or fail to attend, as this could land you in trouble with the WRC, hearing a claim for unfair treatment.

For more info, try asking Brainbox: 'What happens if I can’t open my office because of bad weather?'

Need more support?

Severe weather can strike when you least expect it. The rule of thumb for severe weather for both staff and employers is to be reasonable. That’s why it’s worth putting a severe weather policy in place now, so you can make sure your people management stays calm before the storm.

Lucky for you our experts have crafted one, so you don’t have to! Download BrightHR’s severe weather policy sample. Protect your business and make sure staff know their rights and your responsibilities when it comes to bad weather.