Your rights if you can’t go to work due to Storm Dennis
STORM Dennis is set to smash into the UK this weekend - so what happens if you can’t get into work?
Brits are being warned to brace for 75mph and torrential rain in a few days’ time, just as the country finishes recovering from Storm Ciara last weekend.
But if you’re having to work this weekend, you might be wondering what happens if you can’t make it into the office.
When and where is Storm Dennis due to hit?
Thursday and Friday will see spells of heavy rain, strong winds and snow in parts of the UK before Storm Dennis hits in full on Saturday.
A yellow wind warning has been issued by the Met Office for much of England and Wales, and further warnings could follow.
So far, Brits are being warned to brace for flooding and wicked winds of up to 75mph.
What happens if I can’t get to work?
If it’s unsafe to travel, your boss can’t force you to come into the office - but they also don’t need to pay you either.
It’s worth checking your workplace policy, or speaking with your employer about working from home or different hours.
If working from home isn’t an option then you might be asked to take unpaid or annual leave - or to even make up the hours another time.
You could even be asked to travel into another office, if it's safe to do so.
The most sensible thing to do if you find yourself stuck is to notify your employer as soon as possible to discuss your options.
Your rights will be different if you’re an agency worker, contractor, or self-employed.
What happens if I need to look after my child?
Some schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland have been forced to shut due to snowfall leaving parents frantically trying to find someone to watch their kids.
If you need to stay home to care for your little one, you have the right to “dependent leave” which covers emergencies like schools being closed.
This doesn’t only refer to children - it can cover time off to care for a grandchild, parent or someone who depends on you.
There's no set amount of time for how long this leave should last but in this incident, it will likely be for how long your child's school is closed for.
Annoyingly, your employer doesn't need to pay you for "dependent leave" and like the above, you might be forced to take time off as unpaid leave or annual holiday.
Again, your rights will vary depending on your terms of employment, so make sure you speak to your boss sooner rather than later.
Tracey Moss, employment expert at Citizens Advice, said: “If you can’t make alternative arrangements and have to take care of the child yourself, your employer has to allow you to take unpaid Dependant Leave.”
What happens if my place of work is closed?
If your place of employment is closed because of the bad weather, then they cannot stop your pay.
They shouldn't be able to make you take holiday either, as they need to give you two days' notice before making you take time off.
You should also get paid in full if your employer reduces your hours due to weather, and if the staff who provide access to your building are unable to get in.
Check your contract carefully though, as some workplaces may have different policies.
Tracey said: “Your rights are different if your employer has to close your office.
“If they do this your pay shouldn't be docked, and unless you’ve been given at least 2 days warning then your employer can’t make you take this day as holiday.”
Can I take time off if it's too cold to work?
There isn't a set temperature where employers have to send their employees home because it's too cold.
However, they should be able to provide regular breaks and plenty of opportunities to drink a hot drink.
In addition, it's the employer's responsibility to make sure that the workplace has additional heating if the temperatures do get too cold.
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Everything you need to know about when Storm Dennis will hit the UK and what weather warnings are in place.