Bad Weather and driving to work....

[ashlynn_j_m]

How many people have to commute to work in bad weather? I have a 30 mile commute to work. The people I work with don't have to commute, 1 walks to work and 1 has a 2 minute drive. They have no idea what it's like driving for 30 miles when there is a snow storm. If I call in and tell them the roads are bad, they act like I just don't want to come in. Its snowing today and we are expected to get 8 inches, and my boss who walks to work won't even consider letting me leave early. He just thinks its no big deal, and I try to explain, that he has walked to work his WHOLE life, and he doesn't understand what its like to have to drive in the dark when its snowing. Does anyone else have this problem.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I'm only 11.5 miles from work (3 towns away), but it's all back roads - takes 30 minutes on a regular day. I always go in. I live in an apartment complex where we have to move our cars off the property by 8 a.m. if it's snowed, so the lots can be cleared, so I figure I might as well go to work. What kills me is that the people who live in the town where the company is located - they always call in because it's too dangerous. They have less than a 10-minute drive, while those of us who live 1/2 hour or more away manage to make it. We have one guy who lives 90 minutes away (again, regular weather) and he even comes in!

 

[anewvance]

Can you just take a personal day? I think it is very unreasonable to ask you to drive 30 miles in a snow storm and I just wouldn't risk it.

My husband had to drive home in what was considered Tropical Storm winds at that point 2 years ago when his office didn't close until regular time and he was in meetings until then. I don't remember which of the 2 hurricanes Jeanne or Frances but although the weather didn't get BAD BAD until that night, by 5pm it was really nasty out. And he had to drive 30 miles to get home in it... I was so scared for him the whole time!

 

[ashlynn_j_m]

Can you just take a personal day? I think it is very unreasonable to ask you to drive 30 miles in a snow storm and I just wouldn't risk it.

My husband had to drive home in what was considered Tropical Storm winds at that point 2 years ago when his office didn't close until regular time and he was in meetings until then. I don't remember which of the 2 hurricanes Jeanne or Frances but although the weather didn't get BAD BAD until that night, by 5pm it was really nasty out. And he had to drive 30 miles to get home in it... I was so scared for him the whole time!

I do have personal days i can take, but I don't feel like listening to the complaining on how the roads aren't that bad, and that was stupid for you to use a day when there was no reason for it and on and on and on. They just don't believe it's a big deal to drive in the snow, and they feel, if you live up here, you should be prepared to drive in snow.

 

[Hannathy]

Leave earlier! Sorry I don't think bad roads count when you are an adult. I used to leave 2 hrs early some days to be sure. If you have left adequate time and are still late that happens occasionally but not every time. It was funny where I worked the people with the longest commutes usually were there before the closer people because we left time.

 

[camreesmom]

I only have a 10 mile commute (15 minutes on a normal day) but I refuse to put my life at risk just to go into the office. Luckily our corporate office is in NJ so they are used to having snow days. Here on the Gulf Coast, we rarely have ice or freezing conditions so most people aren't used to driving in it. A lot of people in our office have 45-90 minute commutes on a normal day so the rule is just come in when you feel it is safe. Tuesday and Wednesday are looking iffy this week. Our kids don't have school today but they told them on Friday to be ready for closures or late starts this week.

I would stay home if I were you.

 

[GJM]

I use to have a 53 mile commute one way. One year we had so much snow, I had no problems getting to work. I live in NJ - I would take the Parkway & Turnpike, the roads would be clear.

But the people that lived closer had problems because alot of the side roads where never clear.

But if it was still snowing when I woke up I wouldn't drive. Where I worked they hated if it started snowing and we left work.

 

[Christine]

I feel your pain. Fortunately most people in my office commute and are all TERRIFIED of getting stuck in the snow.

I can't believe they woudn't understand.

 

[emily1982]

I work in a school and over here if the weather is bad, which it rarely is you go into the school nearest to u, at the end of the day it is only a job and i'm sorry, its snow and its not like it happends 365 days a year, so a day off due to bad weather is not alot to ask i think.

 

[ckret01]

I can completely relate. I work 62 miles one way from work. It takes me exactly an hour to get to work. I take some back roads and the rest are highways. I am pertrified of driving in the snow. I shake and am practically in tears. And i still have to drive to work. My boss does not care...he feels b/c you have an SUV you can drive in anything. My boss lives 10 minutes from work.

 

[MushyMushy]

My DH commutes 60 miles each way to work on a nasty stretch of highway. I worry so much about him -- not so much because of his driving, but because of all the other morons on the road.

I'm not trying to turn this into an SUV debate, but the biggest morons are usually those driving four-wheel drives.

 

[Vivianne]

I can sympathize even though my drive is about 15 min. so it's not too bad. I really Hate driving in snow even at that short distance because people won't slow down and keep proper distance between cars.

 

[ashlynn_j_m]

I can completely relate. I work 62 miles one way from work. It takes me exactly an hour to get to work. I take some back roads and the rest are highways. I am pertrified of driving in the snow. I shake and am practically in tears. And i still have to drive to work. My boss does not care...he feels b/c you have an SUV you can drive in anything. My boss lives 10 minutes from work.

That is me, i shake the whole time, I just keep praying that I get home safe. I feel like I'm more of a hazard on the road, just because I'm so nervous. They know how I feel about driving but they don't care. I've had my boyfriend drive over and pick me up at the end of the day because I won't drive home. which means I have to leave my car here, so he has to bring me over the next morning.

 

[freckles and boo]

Is a snowstorm rare in New Hampshire? Here in Chicago they are common (except for this winter for some reason). I understand where you are coming from - to a point. I know it sucks driving in crappy weather because I used to commute 20 miles each way rain, snow, sleet, whatever. My job wasn't critically important - I didn't save lives or anything, but I did have clients who depended on me to get my work done. I also didn't have a sympathetic boss. Unfortunately it was just part of deal - I chose to live farther away. If you truly believe you are in danger by being on the roads then don't go in or state firmly that you are leaving early and deal with the fallout. If this is the only gripe you have about your boss you are very lucky.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

My DH commutes 60 miles each way to work on a nasty stretch of highway. I worry so much about him -- not so much because of his driving, but because of all the other morons on the road.

I'm not trying to turn this into an SUV debate, but the biggest morons are usually those driving four-wheel drives.

Not debating, agreeing...and I have a big 4WD truck! What makes people think that just because they can get their car to go faster, that it's a good idea to do so? They slosh slush up in everyone's windshields, and good luck stopping those big beasts if there's an obstacle ahead!

I used to work in hospitals, so it was a requirement to get your sorry butt to work regardless of the weather. If you were late, you'd get all kinds of harassment, because it was your JOB to know what driving conditions might be, and to plan accordingly. There was some leeway (such as in the Blizzard of '78, where there WAS NO PREDICTION), and major traffic tie-ups were good excuses for being late, but you were still expected to show up. And once there, you better plan on staying.

I don't expect this is considered fair to those who have responsibilities outside of work, but it's one of the things you sign on for when you work in health care. And imagine your electrical co. deciding the weather's too bad to make the employees come in to work...

I think there's a difference, whether or not your work is considered "essential", if you should drive in bad weather or not. I don't think the choice should be determined by how far you have to drive, though. That was your choice, not the company's.

 

[gshanny]

My DH used to work at a job that was about 40 miles away. My mom and a friend also worked there. People that lived within a few miles of the place hated my DH, mom and friend on bad days. They would try to call in and would be told that the out of town people had made it so they could too. One time a supervisor even drove to one persons house and picked them up.
Now DH works about 25 miles away. A lady that works there lives around the corner. He has to take her on bad days. She ends up waiting for 2 hours since she is on 8 hour and he is on a 10 hour day. She is pertrified of driving in bad weather. If one flake falls she is on the phone. She would never make it to work in the winter if not for my DH and one other worker who takes her on DH's day off.
I am lucky and work in town. I work at the school so if it is too bad out I don't have to go to work.

 

[robinb]

I used to commute 25 miles each way to work. I hate to take your boss' side on this, but it is your choice that you live 30 miles from work (or work 30 miles from home ). Your boss pays you to come into work and work a full day, even when it's snowing.

Perhaps you need to move or find a new job if the commute is so stressful for you. Hey! It doen't snow in Orlando .

 

[mtdevine615]

Well I have a 4X4 and I can tell you that when it's icy it really doesn't make a difference. It just means all 4 wheels are slipping. Thankfully our company policy is a comen sense policy. If the company cancels everyone gets paid, but if you want to leave early or not come in that's up to you. Everyone has a different confort level about driving in bad weather. If you don't feel confortable then you shouldn't drive.

 

[ashlynn_j_m]

I used to commute 25 miles each way to work. I hate to take your boss' side on this, but it is your choice that you live 30 miles from work (or work 30 miles from home ). Your boss pays you to come into work and work a full day, even when it's snowing.

Perhaps you need to move or find a new job if the commute is so stressful for you. Hey! It doen't snow in Orlando .

If there were jobs closer i would definitly have one. But where I live, this is it. You have to travel to work. On my way to work, in 30 miles, I pass 1 store and maybe 10 houses. There is not much around where I live. I may be able to get a job at a little convenience store for 5.15/hr....but I can't live on that.

 

[eeyore25]

I agree I hate driving in snow, but if it's not too bad, I will try and go in. I commute 25 miles one way to work. My work does not have snow days so when we do get hit we have to either work from home or take a vacation day. We got hit with two blizzards within a weeks time this year and it was tough. I actually went to work in the first one, left about an hour and a half later and the second one, I didn't even attempt it. During the first blizzard, the only reason I left when I did is because my DH work closed and I had to go get him. It took us 3 hours to get home. My boss told me to call when I got home and he would tell me whether or not I should come back. I did call and I told him I was not coming back!

I agree with the previous poster, the biggests morons are those driving any type of 4 wheel drive. I drive a truck with 4 wheel drive even!!! They seem to think that they are invinsible to everything just because of the 4 wheel drive. We still got stuck in the neighborhood.....