Severe Weather & Flexi Credits

DWP and CMEC have basic guidance for serious disruption to public transport and extreme weather conditions under Standards of Behaviour and Flexible Working Hours Procedure.

Standards of Behaviour

DWP Standards of Behaviour Procedures, Paragraph 38, states:
“38. In the case of travel disruptions or bad weather, you are expected to consider alternative transport options including walking if less than one hour’s walking distance, or secondly, to consider working from an office location closer to home, or from home if practicable. Consideration will be made for issues of diversity and equality, and for your health, safety and welfare.”

CMEC Standards of Behaviour Policy, Paragraph 31, states:
“31. In the case of travel disruptions or bad weather, you are expected to consider alternative transport options including walking if less than one hour’s walking distance or secondly, to consider working from an alternative Commission office closer to home, or from home if practicable. Consideration will be made for issues of diversity and equality, and for your health, safety and welfare.”

Flexible Working Hours Procedures

Both DWP and CMEC Flexible Working Hours Procedures have guidance under Paragraph 3.1 which tells managers to:
“Use discretion about requests for FWH credits for reasons such as serious disruption to public transport and extreme weather conditions”

Health, Safety and Welfare

Managers should give due regard to staff health, safety and welfare, particularly those staff who, as a result of transport disruption, are walking long distances outside of daylight hours in order to attend for work. Managers will need to make use of local knowledge when making decisions regarding what is a reasonable time for staff to start their journey home. Relevant factors to take into account include the route to be taken and weather conditions.

Managers should also consider sympathetically requests for special leave which result from the possible wider effects of transport disruption, for example closure of schools or the breakdown of childcare arrangements.
All decisions must take full account of equal opportunities, family friendly policies and staff health, safety and welfare.

If managers refuse special leave or flexi credits please let your rep know.