Adverse Weather Conditions

We are receiving many telephone calls from parents reporting that their nannies can not get to work and enquiring if they have to pay them. The correct answer if you wish to know is as follows:
Parents are not obliged to pay their nanny if they cannot attend work due to adverse weather conditions, unless their contract of employment specifically states that they are entitled to salary under those circumstances.
It is the nannies responsibility to travel to work, regardless of the severity of weather conditions, unless the parent contractually provides transport for nanny to and from work.
In the event that bad weather prevents a nanny from using their normal method of transport, parents should first advise them to explore alternative means of safe transport.
If the nanny still can’t travel to work the parents can advise them that:
• Any time off work in these circumstances will be unpaid.
• They will be paid on a discretionary basis, but only in exceptional cases.
• They can request to take the time off as paid annual leave, or
• They can make up the lost time.
The same principles will apply for any staff obliged to leave work early due to adverse weather conditions.