Living in Canada, we are going to get a variety of weather that might require us to close our businesses until the storm passes. Be it snowstorms, wildfires or hurricanes, establishing a policy for closings before a weather emergency arises will help your business run smoothly and keep your employees safe from dangerous travel.
An Inclement Weather Policy, also known as a Storm Day Policy, should include the following:
When the business will close
Define the circumstances that would close the business, for example, a certain amount of snow fall, a wind speed, or a specific temperature. Alternatively, you could tie your closures to other closures, such as government offices or when the transportation department limits travel.
Who makes the decision
Determine who makes the final call on when the business is closed. Is it the owner, the office manager or another employee? Make sure all employees are aware of who has the authority to close the business due to weather.
Communicating the closure
It is important to choose communication methods that all employees have access to, keeping in mind that power may go down during a storm. Employees could
- Contact a specific person
- Call into a recorded message
- Visit the business’ Facebook page or website
- Use a phone tree
- Wait for an email or text message
Whichever communication method you choose, ensure the language you use is clear. If possible, indicate the duration of the closure and whether employees are expected to work remotely.
Working from home
Cloud computing and other technologies make working from home easier than ever. Your policy should list which jobs are eligible for this option and who the worker should contact to arrange a work-from-home day.
This can be a good way to keep workers productive while avoiding dangerous travel conditions.
Pay for employees
Provincial labour standards do not require you to pay employees when the business is closed, but you may be required to pay employees a minimum reporting wage if they were at work and sent home.
Emergency Preparedness
Determine which parts of the business (if any) need to continue operating during a closure and develop procedures for ensuring the safety of employees with the minimum disruption to your business. Plan for different scenarios – a one-day closure due to heavy snowfall will likely have much less impact on your business than an evacuation due to wildfire or flooding.
Being prepared to weather the storm will help you reduce stress and prevent dangerous situations for your employees. CFIB members can access a template Storm Day Policy in the Member Portal.
Not a CFIB member? Join today to access the template and many other tools and resources.
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