THE TUC has urged employers not to force staff to take dangerous journeys to come in to work after the Met Office issued a yellow warning for snow in much of north Wales and northern and central England today.

The union federation added bosses must show reasonable flexibility and not punish workers by withholding pay or making them use their holiday.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said some workers will be left worrying about what to do about getting to work if trains and buses stop running or if schools are forced to close due to snow.

“Employers must show understanding and not force staff to make dangerous journeys. And workers shouldn't be docked pay or holiday if they can't make it in,” he said.

“Good bosses will already have bad-weather policies in place so staff know where they stand and recognise the difficulties those with children face when schools are forced shut.”

The TUC also warned employers they have a legal duty of care to employees to ensure their workplaces are safe during the cold weather, by keeping the temperature at least  16°C  and entrances to workplaces properly gritted and not slippery.   

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) recommends employers and staff should be as flexible as they can when disruption makes getting to work difficult or impossible.

“Employers have a ‘duty of care’ for the health and safety of all staff,” it adds.

“This means they should not encourage staff to travel when it's not safe.”

Flexible working should be offered, including, where possible, the option to work from home, Acas says.

But an employer has no legal responsibility to pay employees for days off due to adverse weather unless the business is closed and an employee’s work cannot be done from home.