The earliest snowfall in 17 years is causing travel chaos for workers in some parts of the UK and is predicted to worsen over the coming days.
The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for snow in parts of Scotland and northern and eastern England, with icy roads and drifting snow in some areas.
Those travelling to work by car are already facing problems, with road closures and dangerous conditions in some areas. The AA reported a 26% rise in call outs yesterday and a significant increase in breakdowns in North Yorkshire and Newcastle.
Paul Leather of the AA warned: “Drive according to the conditions and, if they are particularly bad, don’t travel. Even in areas where there is no snow, extra care is essential as icy conditions are possible on many roads.”
Trains have also been affected, with National Rail warning of possible disruption on east coast services today and delays of up to 25 minutes on trains running between Scotland and London Kings Cross.
Earlier this year, Personnel Today reported that the snowy weather resulted in an estimated 4.3 million people being absent from work. Employers will be hoping that there is no repeat this winter.
With the wintry weather predicted to carry on for the best part of a fortnight, it is likely that many workers will face difficulties getting to the office and some employers may have to cope with a dramatically reduced workforce, or even close altogether if conditions worsen.
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For more information on the employment issues caused by disruptions to public transport, read the XpertHR guide.
