Until last winter we haven't had snow like this since the 80's.
Snow is a regular occurance for those countries, their infrastructure is designed for it.
I cant believe work.....
- Thread starter mrfun1981
- Start date
Until last winter we haven't had snow like this since the 80's.
Snow is a regular occurance for those countries, their infrastructure is designed for it.
"Those countries I listed don't grind to a halt every time it snows, and they get it MUCH worse than we do in Britain, year after year."
- Yes that's why they cope with snow very well. Proper snow too.
"Snow is not "unexpected" in the UK, we have had it every year"
- No we don't (or didn't) if you mean a good downpour. Last year was the first time in many, many years that we have had a decent drop of snow.
No it wasn't? Year before that we had a lot of snow too, and the year before, and before. 2004 was when a lot of Motorways were gridlock because they had not been gritted etc. That was a lot of snow as well.
Well done at arguing semantics, it's between 0 and -7 the point being its damm cold. You then compared it to a country where a lot of places have well over 100 days of snow a year which is at least 25cm deep.
And im sure people have managed to get to work in the snow. But the argument here is that you think he should walk 16miles in the dark and snow in freezing cold weather.
Last edited:
Wasn't 2004 when the councils were caught with they're pants down for not spending anything on salt so there was a grit shortage? We had a very, very light smattering of snow and everything ground to a halt - for want of a bit of grit - not excess of snow
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Feb 2007
- Posts
- 13,593
- Location
- London
parts of the country have had snow proberly every year but im pretty sure the uk as a whole has only been seeing snow on this scale for the last 3 years.
i can only recall the last 2-3 years of heavy snow across the UK, before that i cant remember as much since i was born anyway
Associate
- Joined
- 1 Jul 2009
- Posts
- 728
- Location
- Shropshire/Paris
I live out in the deep, dark countryside. If an employer told me to walk 8 miles to work at night, in snow with temps in minus figures I would laugh in their face and tell them where to stick it..
You would need to be fairly fit and and have the proper kit to even attempt this.
You would need to be fairly fit and and have the proper kit to even attempt this.
Last edited:
My other half is a deputy store manager at Sainsburys.
She worked yesterday, had trouble getting home but made it.
This morning I drove her into work as she wasn't too confident. We both got up at 7am, cleared the car and got there for her start at 9am.
The roads were pretty bad but passable. The motorways were down to a single lane and all other roads were like a sleigh ride. The journey home was better due to gritters and increased traffic.
She sent me a text at 9:30 saying a lot of people were phoning in sick and they are expecting a very busy day; forecasted turn over - £500k+
So, those that made it in are going to be up against it with a reduced work force, probably work through their lunch and do unpaid ovetime.
I'm sitting at home thinking what a bunch of lazy, work shy people this country has.
Get into work and support your co-workers !!!!
I'm also guessing the same people who have posted 'stay at home' throughout this thread will be the first people complaining when they can't get food for Christmas because no one has turned up to work.
She worked yesterday, had trouble getting home but made it.
This morning I drove her into work as she wasn't too confident. We both got up at 7am, cleared the car and got there for her start at 9am.
The roads were pretty bad but passable. The motorways were down to a single lane and all other roads were like a sleigh ride. The journey home was better due to gritters and increased traffic.
She sent me a text at 9:30 saying a lot of people were phoning in sick and they are expecting a very busy day; forecasted turn over - £500k+
So, those that made it in are going to be up against it with a reduced work force, probably work through their lunch and do unpaid ovetime.
I'm sitting at home thinking what a bunch of lazy, work shy people this country has.
Get into work and support your co-workers !!!!
I'm also guessing the same people who have posted 'stay at home' throughout this thread will be the first people complaining when they can't get food for Christmas because no one has turned up to work.
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Feb 2007
- Posts
- 13,593
- Location
- London
no , i said its best to stay at home if you cant get in and i work at a sainsburys food depot and ive not failed once yet to get into work when its snowed , but certain people do have problems ,espicially when they dont have a car
We had this, main roads are clear but she could not get the car out of the drive. I asked her why she had not cleared her drive the day before and she could not answer me infact she phoned in the next day aswell. She was on probation and het Tim keeping was dreadful so we just got rid of her. In carlisle we had maybe 3-4 inches o snow which is nothing compared to other places.
Associate
- Joined
- 22 May 2006
- Posts
- 693
So you can honestly say if your wife was in the same position as the op last night you would be happy for her to walk in?
Why they don’t support you. The brownie points you get for making it in mean nothing. There is no point in being a martyr if you’re going to really struggle to get in. Stay at home, the world won’t collapse without out you.
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Feb 2007
- Posts
- 13,593
- Location
- London
we must find out if the OP went in or not ?
I know it's a good 12+ hours after your shift would have started, but.....
Personally I believe you are the best person to judge what action you should take.
Unless I missed it, but the op hasn't said what the 8 mile walk in entails in terms of pavement conditions? If it's a nice straight road with grit and no ice on it that's one thing, IF it's anything like me (SE London) then I don't fancy your chances.
I live about 0.5 mile from the tube station and my walk back from it took at least double the normal time as my council are useless in gritting. Entire walk home was one big skate.
I slipped on the way back, cut my hand open on a fence and badly smacked my knee. So much so it hurts a lot to even walk.
Now, I mention this not for the overwhelming support and sympathy of you guys (
) but to point out if I did that in 0.5 mile walk (and I'm in good health), 8 miles in (assuming) similar conditions would be treacherous.
I will myself be going to work tomorrow even if it involves a lengthy walk. I know already a number of my colleagues won't make it in and will instead work from home. Am I annoyed by this? Only at the weather, not them. I'd rather them be at home for a day or two than break something on the way and be off for weeks.
Just my two cents though....
Personally I believe you are the best person to judge what action you should take.
Unless I missed it, but the op hasn't said what the 8 mile walk in entails in terms of pavement conditions? If it's a nice straight road with grit and no ice on it that's one thing, IF it's anything like me (SE London) then I don't fancy your chances.
I live about 0.5 mile from the tube station and my walk back from it took at least double the normal time as my council are useless in gritting. Entire walk home was one big skate.
I slipped on the way back, cut my hand open on a fence and badly smacked my knee. So much so it hurts a lot to even walk.
Now, I mention this not for the overwhelming support and sympathy of you guys (
) but to point out if I did that in 0.5 mile walk (and I'm in good health), 8 miles in (assuming) similar conditions would be treacherous.I will myself be going to work tomorrow even if it involves a lengthy walk. I know already a number of my colleagues won't make it in and will instead work from home. Am I annoyed by this? Only at the weather, not them. I'd rather them be at home for a day or two than break something on the way and be off for weeks.
Just my two cents though....
Permabanned
- Joined
- 9 Aug 2008
- Posts
- 35,711
My phone call would have gone something like this.
1: Hi there, I'm just ringing up to tell you I won't be coming in due to the adverse wether conditions and I fear for my health and safety.
2: How far do you live?
1: 8 miles.
2: walk it!
1: I am sorry, but due to Health and Safety reasons I won't walk it.
1: I can get a taxi, are you prepared to pay for the extra taxi costs?
2: Yes... , No...
1: Yes...Great I will book one, NO... Sorry there is no way for me to get in today then.
1: I will require this day as a holdayday and I appoligise for the short notice.
2: OK, will ring around to other staff to see who will be coming in.
The reason I say above is my concerns for 8 miles walking is a H&S issue. I also think that some companies take the p*** out of staff too much and working for peanuts.
I do work in the education sector, yes I get paid for not going in, yes I get paid for having holidays.
However, on the other hand if I was not to get paid I still wouldn't have gone in. Once again due to the major concerns about H&S. Where I work there has been a number of staff that tried to walk, resulted in needing to call an ambulance due to falls. Broken legs, Sprained ankles e.t.c. This puts pressure on the NHS staff too.
This is why, if the conditions are as bad. No point trying as there is knock on effects that could happen causing more problems for other people!
1: Hi there, I'm just ringing up to tell you I won't be coming in due to the adverse wether conditions and I fear for my health and safety.
2: How far do you live?
1: 8 miles.
2: walk it!
1: I am sorry, but due to Health and Safety reasons I won't walk it.
1: I can get a taxi, are you prepared to pay for the extra taxi costs?
2: Yes... , No...
1: Yes...Great I will book one, NO... Sorry there is no way for me to get in today then.
1: I will require this day as a holdayday and I appoligise for the short notice.
2: OK, will ring around to other staff to see who will be coming in.
The reason I say above is my concerns for 8 miles walking is a H&S issue. I also think that some companies take the p*** out of staff too much and working for peanuts.
I do work in the education sector, yes I get paid for not going in, yes I get paid for having holidays.
However, on the other hand if I was not to get paid I still wouldn't have gone in. Once again due to the major concerns about H&S. Where I work there has been a number of staff that tried to walk, resulted in needing to call an ambulance due to falls. Broken legs, Sprained ankles e.t.c. This puts pressure on the NHS staff too.
This is why, if the conditions are as bad. No point trying as there is knock on effects that could happen causing more problems for other people!
Certainly walking 8 miles is too far.
Without knowing the specific circumstances of the OP it's impossible to comment on the other available options.
There is though a common theme throughout this thread. It seems if you don't own a car then you can't leave your house.
Really ?!?
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Feb 2007
- Posts
- 13,593
- Location
- London
where i work i need a car because its at least 12 miles so i would say without it for work im screwed.
reasons being:
-i would not have a clue what bus to get and it would involve more than 1 bus
-late shifts , i cant ring family/friends expecting them to give me a lift
the only other way is a taxi but that would cost a lot and its the pain of having to book one to get you home after work.
agreed..... i had the same thing at my place, i managed to get there (15 miles) and my boss who lives 2 miles away failed to turn in.
This is precisely my point.
Straight away it's ' 'I can't do because...."
Think 'I can do'
On your reason above; you can't seriously be expecting people to accept that. You have access to the internet and presumably a phone - find out
For me its pretty simple if public transport is running getting to work is a given, not many people live or work so far from a bus or train stop that having to walk a small way should stop attendance.
However the minute public transport is off for me it is a differant story, expecting someone to walk 16 miles is unrealistic and if they are struggling for staff the management should be considering other options. (they could offer to pay for taxis, arrange mini buses etc, the cost being miniscule to losing your staff)
To expect all shelf stackers to make a night shift when public transport is off is frankly quite stupid.
Maybe it is differant in other parts of the country but I live in rural Northumberland and public transport is very rarely off to bad weather so a bit of understanding when it is off must be shown.
However the minute public transport is off for me it is a differant story, expecting someone to walk 16 miles is unrealistic and if they are struggling for staff the management should be considering other options. (they could offer to pay for taxis, arrange mini buses etc, the cost being miniscule to losing your staff)
To expect all shelf stackers to make a night shift when public transport is off is frankly quite stupid.
Maybe it is differant in other parts of the country but I live in rural Northumberland and public transport is very rarely off to bad weather so a bit of understanding when it is off must be shown.