Snow Days

This past week in

Iowa

we were hit by a series of snow storms that left over twenty inches of the white stuff on the ground, roadways and parking lots.  This in combination with the rain, ice and sleet that preceded the snow put a stop to most activities in our area. The conditions were so poor that the Iowa State Patrol shut down over 100 miles of interstate highway and many were left with out electricity for days.

This creates a dilemma for many businesses in how to handle those employees who missed worked due to the weather, poor driving conditions and lack of power. 

Some employers, who were open for business, take the position that employees knew where the job was when they applied.  The employer doesn’t tell them where to live, they just expect them to come to work.  Employees that choose not to come to work should be disciplined according to policy and/or required to take paid-time-off (PTO).

Other employers who closed are wondering if they need or should pay their employees since it was beyond their control that they were unable to work or should they require employees to take PTO to be paid.

It is my position, that what you reward you get more of.  The focus should not be on those that didn’t make it to work, but focus and reward those that did.   Instead of disciplining those that didn’t come in to work, do something special for those that did.  Something as simple as buying pizza for lunch on inclement weather days to awarding additional PTO.  Show that you care and appreciate those that came to work, while still caring for the safety of those that didn’t. Do not require employees to take PTO, but make it opitional.  It is an opportunity to be a hero to both groups.