Employers are being urged to allow staff to work from home and not risk treacherous journeys into work as the deep freeze continues to grip the nation.

The TUC, which has issued advice for employers and workers on how to handle the freak conditions, comes as up to 40cm of snow fell across parts of the south-east of England overnight.

With snow causing problems for the UK’s transport network, the TUC said it made sense for employers to allow staff who are able to do so to work from home rather than struggle with a lengthy commute to work.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has also called on employers to not pressurise employees into “risking life and limb” to get to work or encourage workers to drive where it is requirement for their job.

The TUC said firms should examine their bad weather policies, which set out what is expected of staff and what they should do when snow, ice and a lack of transport prevents them from getting to work.

Employers have also been advised to keep an eye on the weather and ensure measures are in place to ensure staff do not get trapped at work.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “Across the country, people are braving the elements to get into work. But with the snow still falling and the cold and icy weather set to stay with us for a good few days to come, we need a sensible approach to getting into work. Employers and workers must keep each other informed as to whether it’s safe, or even possible, to commute to and from work.

“For many, the bad weather and lack of public transport have already made their commute impossible, but many employers will have ‘bad weather’ policies in place so staff are clear as to what is expected of them.”

Snow: what you need to know

Guides on how to deal with employment issues arising from poor weather conditions can be found on the XpertHR website.