Conciliation and arbitration service Acas has issued advice for employers and employees in the South West as Storm Eunice disrupted travel and forced businesses in the region to temporarily close.
A red Met Office weather warning was in place on Friday (February 18) with winds predicted between 70-90mph, with major incidents declared in areas including Avon and Somerset and Gloucestershire, where flooding alerts have also been issued.
People in affected areas were advised by the Met Office to avoid travel where at all possible and prepare for "widespread" damage to property and infrastructure.
In response Acas released its own advice to business owners and workers, many of whom will be working from home today.
Acas advised employers in the region to make alternative working arrangements including:
- allow workers to come in a little later than usual if the travel disruption;
- if the weather is expected to improve, offer workers who can get into work the opportunity to swap shifts or work overtime;
- suggest flexible working to allow workers to make up any lost working time or allow workers to take the time off as paid annual leave;
- consider having a bad weather or travel disruption policy that includes contact arrangements, alternative forms of working and what happens with staff pay if a worker is unable to get into work.
The organisation also advised workers to inform bosses as soon as they could if they were unable to make it into work or to check for alternative travel options.
Acas also said staff should check with employers if flexible working arrangements could be agreed and to consider any urgent work that needed to be covered if they could not get into work.
The organisation also provided a list of legal considerations, saying there was no automatic legal right to be paid for working time missed due to travel disruption or bad weather.
It added that employees have the right to take unpaid time off in an emergency situation that involves a dependent, including if their children’s school was closed due to bad weather.
Acas said that if workers are ready and available to work but their place of work is closed, then they would usually be entitled to normal pay.
Michael Fenn, Acas area director for the South West, said: “Storm Eunice will cause significant travel disruptions across the South West.
“Workers across the region may be concerned about travelling into work on Friday and over the next few days and some employers will have concerns about staff absences impacting their productivity and performance.
“Our advice explains the legal rights when it comes to bad weather and suggests alternate working arrangements that could help to keep businesses running.”
M&S was among the businesses operating in the region to temporarily close on Friday morning due to the storm.
In messages posted on the Facebook pages of its Bristol stores in Cribbs Causeway, Longwell Green, Eastgate, Yate, Imperial Park in Harcliffe, Avonmeads and Whiteladies Road, an M&S spokesperson wrote the retailer was “sorry for any inconvenience caused".
The post added that M&S would re-open the stores as soon as it could and told shoppers to check its website for updates.
In response to one comment to the post on it Cribbs Causeway store’s page, which asked if staff would still be paid, M&S responded: "Of course. Anyone who is due to work who will not be in store will be paid in full and will not need to make up any hours. The safety of our team members is our number 1 priority."
Transport operator First Bus cancelled all services in and around Bristol on Friday morning to protect drivers and passengers from Storm Eunice, while tourist attractions including Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and St Nicks Market were all closed.
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