3/6/08 2:00 PM

Recent Winter Weather Packed Workplace Wallop

By Kathy Gurchiek

“A winter storm warning is in effect.”

Those are words that strike dread in the hearts of employers and employees alike, and for good reason—severe weather affects commutes, distracts workers and impacts employers’ daily operations.

About one-third of full-time U.S. employees have had their commute affected by severe weather in the past three months, according to just-released findings from a Workforce Institute survey of 2,810 workers. Of that number, 1,529 work full time and 1,472 regularly commute to work.

“Workplaces around the country are feeling the impact of the recent severe weather,” Workforce Institute director Joyce Maroney stated in a Feb. 22, 2008, press release on the findings.

In early February 2008, for example, snow and ice created dangerous driving conditions in New Mexico and forced a number of road closures near the Colorado border.

Around the same time, some cities in Wisconsin declared snow emergencies in anticipation of snow and strong, gusty winds expected to shrink visibility to less than a quarter of a mile.

In January 2008, a monster storm brought dangerous amounts of rain and snow to northern California, creating whiteout conditions in some areas.

Such extreme winter weather wreaks havoc on attendance and productivity and underlines the importance of employers communicating their severe weather policies clearly and in a timely manner, according to Maroney.

“Whether it’s trying to find employees to cover a shift on the day of a big storm, the need to make a snap decision on whether to close or remain open, or dealing with the larger-than-usual number of employees working from home who are over-burdening the network—the weather is having a real effect on daily operations,” she said.

Among the 33 percent of full-time workers whose commutes were affected by severe weather in the past three months, 44 percent said extreme weather impacted their work schedule and 39 percent cited a loss in productivity as they discussed the weather with co-workers, checked the weather, and sought alternative arrangements for concerns such as child care and transportation.

“It’s only natural that employees will have a difficult time focusing when they are at work during a major weather event,” Maroney said.

An overwhelming majority (87 percent) of workers overall said their boss or supervisor usually is understanding when severe weather causes employees to miss work, and close to half (45 percent) said their employer has closed for a full or partial day because of severe weather.

Among the one-third of workers whose commutes were impacted by severe weather:

• 61 percent said severe weather lengthened their commute.

• 23 percent arrived late to work.

• 16 percent had to leave early.

• 6 percent were unable to make it to work.

• 5 percent opted to work from home.

• 20 percent lost pay because of their absence.

• 14 percent said their absence caused co-workers to come in or stay late to cover for them.

Only 36 percent of full-time workers who regularly commute to work said their employer uses an automated system that keeps track of absences.

“That means that the majority of employers out there are, in a sense, flying blind. They’re trying to keep track of ever-changing schedules and pay statuses without help from an automated system,” Maroney said.

Most important, though, is apprising employees of how the employer will act when severe winter weather looms.

“Best-practice employers communicate clearly and in a timely fashion with employees about their policies concerning weather and other emergency circumstances,” Maroney said, noting that workers want to believe that their employer has their best interests at heart.

Kathy Gurchiek is associate editor for HR News. She can be reached at kgurchiek@shrm.org.

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Express Request: To receive information on cold weather safety, please use SHRM’s Express Request service by visiting http://www.shrm.org/hrresources/expressrequestSEASONAL.asp and selecting the key term Winter: Cold Weather Safety Tips.

Express Request: To receive information on inclement weather pay practices, please use our Express Request service by visiting http://www.shrm.org/hrresources/expressrequestSEASONAL.asp and selecting the key term Winter: Inclement Weather Pay Practices