[GypsySoul22]

One simple one...I know 'hearty VT and NH' folks get their butts to work in snow, but during a 'winter storm' (a bad one) would it be 'horrible' if you 'couldn't get in to work?' What I am asking is, if you 'missed work' due to very bad weather--is that a 'firing offense?'

I'm not talking about 2 inches...more like a 'serious winter storm.'

I'm thinking about when I get a job--I refuse to put myself in danger (again very bad weather) to get to work. I may have to try to work from home or moderate my plans for the winter.

Thoughts?

[nicolepsy]

i think that unless the county says "do not drive. stay OFF the roads!" that one may be expected to show up for work (at most places) even if it takes them 5 hours to get there and puts them in danger. sucks.

[arel]

Originally Posted by nicolepsy

i think that unless the county says "do not drive. stay OFF the roads!" that one may be expected to show up for work (at most places) even if it takes them 5 hours to get there and puts them in danger. sucks.

Yech! For the salaries that are paid up there, people are supposed to put their lives in danger?

Well, services can't stop because of the weather. And services are performed by people. So if there are weather issues in the winter, I guess there is no alternative but to get to work no matter what.

So I guess it's best to work as close to home as possible, especially during the winter. And if you have to drive any distance, I guess you need to have a plan. You need a place to stay overnight if you can't get home or if it's too time consuming to drive home. If you have pets on medication or if they have to have wet food that can't be left out, like dry food can be, (as when your pet is a diet-controlled diabetic), you need a plan for that, too.

It snowed overnight here in NYC, and I am annoyed because I want to go to Manhattan this afternoon. I'm going to take the subway, not the car. I was irritated to see snow on the ground this morning. A fine Vermonter I'll be.

[GypsySoul22]

Well, in NY there is a sensible 'try to come in if you can' policy. Most people straggle in unless it's a blizzard or winter storm of massive proportions. Half the other companies & most schools close (then again, our school district NEVER closed even if every other one was..)

We live (in good weather) 15-20 minutes from most places so it's not a matter of 'no way' once they clear the highway. But as I am applying for jobs now, I have to be realistic and until I feel comfortable I will not seek a job too far away.

We haven't gotten the snow tires yet (simply financial). We were hit with a lot of extra bills this last month and hope to get some on this week. My husband has a very responsible job in a hospital so he WILL HAVE TO go to work.

[Tarastomsgirl]

Here in NH (I'm 15 mins from Vermont) my husbands job has a 30 minute policy.. You cannot live more than 30 minutes from the station. Lucky for us we literally live about 2 mins away. But there are some people who live just under the 30 mins and when the weather is bad some of them sleep there. I know that's not possible for all jobs.

[Mary77]

I think it depends on your job. Most of the places I've worked or my huband worked didn't expect us to come in when we have dangerous weather. I think most employers are pretty understanding.

[HHurley78]

Hi,I'm living in central Vermont. We recieved about twelve inches of snow over the past 12 hours. Schools are closed, but businesses are not. I think unless the weather service/ news has indicated road closings you are expected to be at work. Invest in studded snow tires and 4 wheel drive, you'll probably need it.

[quickdraw]

Depends on the nature of the job and your boss. My wife can get away with being late, but not me.

[chaz longue]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

One simple one...I know 'hearty VT and NH' folks get their butts to work in snow, but during a 'winter storm' (a bad one) would it be 'horrible' if you 'couldn't get in to work?' What I am asking is, if you 'missed work' due to very bad weather--is that a 'firing offense?'

I'm not talking about 2 inches...more like a 'serious winter storm.'

I'm thinking about when I get a job--I refuse to put myself in danger (again very bad weather) to get to work. I may have to try to work from home or moderate my plans for the winter.

Thoughts?

People tend to be pretty sensible and err on the side of caution here, GypsySoul. I'm self employed and not somebody who tends to be put off by "bad" weather, so I pretty much keep appts, unless I feel it's dangerous out. But there are lots of schools closed today even though there's only 2 - 3 inches of snow that fell last night. This is fine with me, I like the fact that people are cautious - not everybody drives as carefully as we do, and I'm happy to have people stay home when they feel it's best.

This subject comes up a lot though, and I often find myself wanting to reassure people that the weather in VT just doesn't tend to be extreme. When it rains all night and the temperature drops at dawn and the roads are dangerous, people tend to stay home. But this just doesn't happen as often as one might think...

Warmly,
David

[flu189]

Reporting times and excused delays are solely the perogitive of the employer. Some will be understanding and some will not. As mentioned before today's minimal snow did result in many cancellations, staggered reporting, and early releases. It is wise and prudent to limit traffic when conditions are poor. There really are very few "mission essential" jobs when you really think about it. The only storm that I personally remember officially shutting down roads was in eastern Mass back in the Blizzard of 1978 and that was simply because of the amount of stranded and disabled vehicles blocking roads which made cleanup efforts more difficult. I was not up here during the ice storm of '98 so maybe some others that were can comment if roads were actually closed here in Vermont.