posted on Feb, 17 2014 @ 12:23 PM
At our workplace we had a "Snow Day" provision that provided for paid time off in the event of snow for (I believe) two separate incidences per
year. This was a "no questions asked" policy, but management did declare "Snow Days" for everyone once in awhile and actually close the place
down, in which case everyone got paid for time scheduled to work. This did not count against the above "Snow Days."
It was interesting to see employees' reactions. One woman in my department would leave if she saw ONE snowflake in the sky. She would panic,
literally, and rush out of the workplace, she was so frightened of driving in the snow. Although middle-age she did not have a lifetime of driving
experience and only learned after her divorce. So she self-selected out, which for her was the right thing to do.
Other people would put chains on their RWD cars and drive to work no matter what, perfectly competently, without a real care in the world except the
snow slowed them down.
At one level I kind of roll my eyes at the "ease" of which people would run for cover. I wonder of they would act like that if they did not get
paid. And I guess I wish people were a little more competent about dealing with inclement weather. On the other hand I have to respect people who know
their own level of competence and opt out for their own selves--and others. That also seems a sensible solution.
But the fact is we don't get much snow so we can "afford" to be as lenient as described above, surely a liberal policy. If we were in Detroit or
Duluth or Missoula, surely those places need to get on with life even if there is two feet of snow on the ground.