State of Emergency - paid if you don't go to work?

[prncess674]

I work for a large consulting firm and am a salaried employee. If a big storm is predicted we are all we are still expected work. Every employee is issued a laptop and is paid for in home internet service. There are pros and cons to the laptop and paid home internet, great that you can work from home when needed/wanted but also there is never an excuse to not be working.

 

[ShannonMB]

wow, I didn't know this. What about when they call for 4x4s to take drs and nurses to the hospitals? They are driving when no one is supposed to but doing a public service.

Here in Ohio, they declare Level 1, 2, or 3 snow emergencies. I don't know if this is how it's done everywhere, so sorry if I'm stating the obvious. Anyway, during a Level 3, the wording is that all drivers are to stay off the road except emergency personnel, and violators can be ticketed or arrested. According to the hospital where I'm a nurse, we are emergency personnel, so we better get our butts on the road and get to work! And it seems to never fail that I'm scheduled every time a snowstorm hits (this one included ).

Since I've been an adult, I don't recall a 'state of emergency' being called here for a snowstorm. But if they had to deploy the 4x4s to come and get all of us to take us to the hospital, I'm certain that would be exempted from any insurance rules about not driving during snow emergencies.

 

[disneychrista]

It also would depend on if you are an exempt employee. Exempt employees must be paid for any week that they did any work. Of course they can take this out of your PTO/Vacation.

 

[mamalle]

never had a snow isse but hurricanes.. hubby works for the FD and has to work- I have to also as a nurse.. we have a and b team and if you think there will be a issue getting there- they say get there before and if you are stuck at home- well they will come and pick you up. Nothing paid unless you are actually at work.. I was stuck at the hospital for a few days back in 2005. It was a nightmare..

 

[swilshire]

It also would depend on if you are an exempt employee. Exempt employees must be paid for any week that they did any work. Of course they can take this out of your PTO/Vacation.

That varies from place to place as well. In our company, exempt employees must work at least four hours of a day to be able to claim the rest of the day as "personal leave". If you work less than four hours, you have to take a vacation day if you want to get paid.

Sheila

 

[PatsMom]

The military had its own set of rules when I was on active duty. If non-essential personnel were directed not to report, you did not have to use leave time. If you were considered essential personnel, you were expected to make your way in to the base.

After the military I worked for a large utility. If we arrived at work and were released due to weather, we were paid for the day. If we did not show up for work, it was unpaid or vacation time. We had "emergency travel cards" identifying us as working for a public utility and were allowed on the roads. Perhaps medical personnel have something similar?

Where I work now, if it is a telecommute day for me, nothing changes. If it is an in office day, if I have appointments, I need to make it to work or reschedule. Otherwise, I can change an office day to a telecommute. But I am the only employee with the telecommute arrangement. The others are expected to make it in to work or use vacation time.

 

[bettymae1121]

I'm in IL, as far as I know it's up to the company. My company is very generous and pays if we have to close due to weather. On days when the weather is bad but not horible, they've also done late starts (10 AM instead of 8 AM) because traffic is so bad that no one is able to get to work on time unless they leave at 4 AM.

My DH works for a major newspaper, and is actually considered an "esential" worker so they cops let him through (he shows them his work id) unless the roads are litterally unpassable. The newspaper NEVER "closes" so he has to be there. If he truely couldn't make it, he would not be paid.

 

[disneychrista]

That varies from place to place as well. In our company, exempt employees must work at least four hours of a day to be able to claim the rest of the day as "personal leave". If you work less than four hours, you have to take a vacation day if you want to get paid.

The law (at least in California) says that they have to pay you for any week that you perform any work. It is up to company policy if they make you use PTO/Vacation time to cover the hours.

 

[kilee]

My company has "disaster pay". Essentially we get paid if they close due to weather, lack of power, or anything. We usually get 1 snow day a year where it gets bad enough they close.

 

[dclfun]

Seems like it does depend on your workplace. Here in Florida we were not paid during hurricanes, even when we were told that we HAD to leave early due to the danger involved, based on where we lived. Those of us who were told to leave did not get paid for the remainder of the day nor did we get paid when the company was shut down/advisories to stay at home.---Kathy

 

[Hannathy]

When I worked in the Hospital if you didn't come in you didn't get paid and being in the ER we weren't allowed to leave until a complete next shift was in place. If you couldn't get in and it was a declared snow emergency they would send a police/sheriffs vehicle to come get you! (especially the DR's, who weren't allowed to leave) When I was in the Education Dept. you either could take it without pay or use a pers/vacation day your choice.

 

[phragmipedium]

I'm a state employee in Oregon. If the office is open but there is inclement weather, and you choose not to come in, that's fine but you must use leave. Our union agreement says if something happens during the day (hazard, inclement weather, etc) and we get sent home from work, we get paid. If the office closes before we get there, ie for inclement weather, and we've been informed that it will be closed before work would start, we do not get paid and must use leave or will be granted leave without pay if necessary. That happened once this year and no one was very happy about it...doesn't seem very fair to not be able to work if you're willing to come in and can't because the office closes entirely. It happens so rarely, it doesn't seem right to not get paid on that forced closure day - or perhaps they could have counted it as one of the furlough days we have to take this biennium. My husband is a teacher and does get paid for snow days.

 

[nunzia]

At my job you get paid no matter what (and I will tell you some slackers really take advantage..anyway...). My DH works for a small business..they had to close becasue of snow for a day and paid everyone, but changed the manual to state if they had to close you'd need to use a vacation day or not be paid..totally fair..if they are closed no income is coming in, so you certainly can't expect them to have to pay out...of course one person whined about it..the highest paid person naturally...

 

[gillenkl]

We live in Delaware and my DH had to go to work on Saturday during the state of emergency - he works for the govt. But they sent everyone home after 2 hours and he was paid I believe administrative leave. Probably depends on the company you work for though I don't think a company is required to pay - don't know though. We're getting another 18-24 inches starting tonight and this time DH says he's not heading in only to be sent home in 2 hours.

 

[ssawka]

When I worked in the Hospital if you didn't come in you didn't get paid and being in the ER we weren't allowed to leave until a complete next shift was in place. If you couldn't get in and it was a declared snow emergency they would send a police/sheriffs vehicle to come get you! (especially the DR's, who weren't allowed to leave) When I was in the Education Dept. you either could take it without pay or use a pers/vacation day your choice.

I know around here in the DC area, they are constantly looking for people with 4-wheel drive vehicles to volunteer to pickup hospital employees.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I've been a municipal employee for most of my career.

As an 'essential' employee I had to come to work no matter what. (911 Dispatcher) If my vehicle physically couldn't make it, they sent someone for me. I generally would pack a bag, we'd all sleep at the station and take turns working. We were paid overtime for anything over our regular shift.

Now as a 'non-essential' employee if they close the town offices, I get to stay home. I get paid.