snow rant...

[Bibio]

RANT...

what is it with this country a bit of snow and all goes to a stand still. FFS the continent get it every year and their trains run and food get delivered, us on the other hand think that the world is going to end. feckin pensioners getting up at the crack of dawn and nicking all the bread out the shops then a$$holes panic buying food like they are never going to see the shops open again. yes my coop/local shops are empty because of numptys and lorry drivers who wont drive in snow.

rant over... lol

its pretty outside though :D

[Amplimator]

What snow?

[maviczap]

What snow?

Yes, what snow, just fecking freezing

I thought it was just us, but even in places like Canada it still goes to rat poo when the first snow comes, but once they've got used to the idea it gets better.

I guess its never here long enough for us to get it sorted

[anna]

no snow here

[warrenhewitt10]

its not just snow, if its raining people over in NI seem to be unable to do more than about 40 on the motorway.....

[metalangel]

I thought it was just us, but even in places like Canada it still goes to rat poo when the first snow comes, but once they've got used to the idea it gets better.

That's all the people who've put off getting their winter tires fitted.

The UK has this idiotic idea of 'gritting' being some panacea for snow. IT'S NOT. Get the plows out, push the snow off the roads. If there's ice underneath, then you put salt down. Once the snow is off the roads, the passage of vehicles will do a pretty decent job at keeping them clear.

[-Ralph-]

If you have a day off because of snow, you should not only not get paid, but you should have a days wages deducted from your pay, unless overall attendance at your workplace that day was less than 50%. If half the employees can get in, then there's no excuse for the other half. If you really couldn't get in having made every possible effort, which doesn't include looking out of the window and going "no way", then you should have to lodge an appeal to your HR dept, to have the days wages refunded.

You can walk 10 miles in two hours FFS!

That would sort it!

[TazDaz]

If you have a day off because of snow, you should not only not get paid, but you should have a days wages deducted from your pay, unless overall attendance at your workplace that day was less than 50%. If half the employees can get in, then there's no excuse for the other half. If you really couldn't get in having made every possible effort, which doesn't include looking out of the window and going "no way", then you should have to lodge an appeal to your HR dept, to have the days wages refunded.

You can walk 10 miles in two hours FFS!

That would sort it!

You might be able to march 10 miles in two hours, but I bet the vast majority cannot, especially in the snow/ice.

[21QUEST]

Err ten miles in two hours?

Got a vid to proof that lol. I do quite a bit of walking and 10 miles in two hours is VERY good ;)

Not at work today and probably not in tomorrow....I ain't no 'soldier' :p

[-Ralph-]

You might be able to march 10 miles in two hours, but I bet the vast majority cannot, especially in the snow/ice.

2 hours 30 mins then! It's taking many people that long in a car. I can do it and I'm a 16 stone asthmatic! If they are not capable due to age or health, they genuinely can't get the car to a clear road, and there were no public transport options (which wouldn't be such an issue as it is this week as all the bus, train and taxi drivers would be at work!), then they have a good case to present to HR to get the refund!

It would stop all the folk who open the curtains, see the snow, and climb back into bed. There will still be some who genuinely can't make it, but if 50% of the employees have made it into work, then I bet there are 40% taking the day off and another 10% who genuinely can't make it.

[fizzwheel]

You can walk 10 miles in two hours FFS!!

I think thats being over optimisitc, average persons walking speed is 3 mph, on a good day on level flat surface.

[21QUEST]

I do agree 'not getting paid' should provided as an incentive... :D

[-Ralph-]

In 18 years of driving 30k miles a year, much of that in Scotland, I have never got a car stuck to the extent that I had to abandon it. I have had to use a different route to avoid a hill, or abandon the journey and turn round and go home. I have had to ask a passing tractor or 4x4 to tow me out, but only when I've returned to a parked car in a car park and found it surrounded by a foot of snow. If I can get the car off my drive and down my road, I can get it anywhere.

I've lost count of how many cars belonging to other people that I've had either dig out, tow out or drive out, to clear the road and allow me to continue my journey.

First thing I do when I see snow is put walking boots, gloves, hat good jacket, a shovel, and a tow rope in the boot of my car.

[fizzwheel]

I do agree 'not getting paid' should provided as an incentive... :D

At the end of the day at our place, thats the HR policy.

If you make an effort and get in no matter how late, you get a full days pay, even if you have to leave early to get home again.

If the police shut the roads / you are advised not to travel and you dont come to work then you get paid.

If you dont make any effort / cant be bothered then you either take it as holiday or you loose pay.

But still they take the p*ss as demonstrated by my colleague in the last dump of snow we had, who refused to drive two miles across town to work as she "didnt feel safe driving" and refused to walk saying the pavements were slippy.

A girl in the finance department chucked a strop yesterday and wanted to go home, because it was snowing, which it was but it wasnt settling...

[Dicky Ticker]

Schools---having to close due to the teachers not attending work.
Perhaps they should live in their catchment area instead of 30-40 miles away.
OK I am retired but I have just driven 28 miles each way,past the school,to look after two grandkids because teachers couldn't be arsed to be bothered to try and get there plus the school is only 400yds from a station with both trains and buses running.
We are well aware that side roads are difficult but once on the main road not so bad,it just seems that people in salaried jobs can take time off because there is snow in their street and unable to live life without their car.Apparently 70% of the school staff could not get to work FFS that has meant finding care for 300+ kids and working parents taking time off and losing a days wages-----Sorry but that doesn't bode well with me.

[metalangel]

The panic buying I don't understand either. Why the ever-loving fook would you rush out and buy the two most perishable items you can (bread and milk) when if you were genuinely concerned about having to survive for a long period you'd be buying canned stuff and UHT milk? Even if these cretins were planning to just sit and eat bread and guzzle milk constantly they'd never finish it all before it went bad.

[21QUEST]

...

But still they take the p*ss as demonstrated by my colleague in the last dump of snow we had, who refused to drive two miles across town to work as she "didnt feel safe driving" and refused to walk saying the pavements were slippy.

A girl in the finance department chucked a strop yesterday and wanted to go home, because it was snowing, which it was but it wasnt settling...

But I take it, they weren't prepared not to get paid. And next year, I'm sure they'd still be as preapred for the weather as they were this year...

Did one or both get their way? It's one thing making a decision for whatever silly reason(arguable perhaps) but be prepared to pay for it...

[Dave20046]

You can walk 10 miles in two hours FFS!

That would sort it!

Well it took me just under two hours to walk 6 miles into work today :smt071
In deep snow it's unbelievably knackering.
Argree with the rest of it though..

[fizzwheel]

My colleague that refused to drive across town on day 4, when all the roads were clear, got rung by the boss and told to get her ass into work, she turned up 30 minutes later. It didnt help that I had driven past her road the day before and it was clear and had no snow on it and I told my boss that when he asked why my colleague wasnt in work that day.

The girl in finance was told to b*gger off in no certain terms and that she was to stay at work unless she wanted to take the time off as holiday.

[DarrenSV650S]

My colleague that refused to drive across town on day 4, when all the roads were clear, got rung by the boss and told to get her ass into work, she turned up 30 minutes later. It didnt help that I had driven past her road the day before and it was clear and had no snow on it and I told my boss that when he asked why my colleague wasnt in work that day.

The girl in finance was told to b*gger off in no certain terms and that she was to stay at work unless she wanted to take the time off as holiday.

Tell tale t*t. Your granny canny knit

[-Ralph-]

You can walk 10 miles in two hours FFS!

2 hours 30 mins then!

OK! 3 Hours.

ARE WE ALL SATISFIED NOW?

Whatever time it takes, the principal is the same.

(I'm quite sure I walk at more than 3 mph BTW! I've got an off-road sat nav (Memory Map) on my phone that tracks my route and logs all the stats, I'll take the dog out an then post up my average speed)

[andrewsmith]

RANT...

what is it with this country a bit of snow and all goes to a stand still. FFS the continent get it every year and their trains run and food get delivered, us on the other hand think that the world is going to end. feckin pensioners getting up at the crack of dawn and nicking all the bread out the shops then a$$holes panic buying food like they are never going to see the shops open again. yes my coop/local shops are empty because of numptys and lorry drivers who wont drive in snow.

rant over... lol

its pretty outside though :D

:winner:

Its SNOW as someone else has said put the gritters out WITH THE PLOUGH BLADES DOWN!!! (Name and Shame time Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Borough Council, North Tyneside Council)

My street is a main access to a school and old peoples home, no ice on the road just compacted snow 5 mins with plough road sorted

[21QUEST]

My colleague that refused to drive across town on day 4, when all the roads were clear, got rung by the boss and told to get her ass into work, she turned up 30 minutes later. It didnt help that I had driven past her road the day before and it was clear and had no snow on it and I told my boss that when he asked why my colleague wasnt in work that day.

The girl in finance was told to b*gger off in no certain terms and that she was to stay at work unless she wanted to take the time off as holiday.

Amazing how realising "it's not going to be a free lunch" can concentrate some folks mind lol

[fizzwheel]

Whatever time it takes, the principal is the same.

Agreed, but what is a reasonable distance to expect people to walk ?

I'm reasonably fit, walking a couple of miles for me is now big deal. But I know people that physically couldnt walk two miles. I'm serious, one person I work with cant walk up 3 flights of stairs in our office without being red faced and out of breath when they get to the top floor.

[Specialone]

When I used to work for somebody, I used to commute 50 mile round trip every day, one day it snowed heavy overnight so left 20 mins early and still got to work 10 mins before my start time, I was one of first in.

A lot of other staff turned in between 1-2 hours late and all lived within 5 miles of the place.

Management wasn't amused.

[maviczap]

Schools---having to close due to the teachers not attending work.
Perhaps they should live in their catchment area instead of 30-40 miles away.
OK I am retired but I have just driven 28 miles each way,past the school,to look after two grandkids because teachers couldn't be arsed to be bothered to try and get there plus the school is only 400yds from a station with both trains and buses running.
We are well aware that side roads are difficult but once on the main road not so bad,it just seems that people in salaried jobs can take time off because there is snow in their street and unable to live life without their car.Apparently 70% of the school staff could not get to work FFS that has meant finding care for 300+ kids and working parents taking time off and losing a days wages-----Sorry but that doesn't bode well with me.

We'll be in trouble if there's WW3 (without N bombs) no bulldog spirit in existance :confused:

[21QUEST]

OK! 3 Hours.

ARE WE ALL SATISFIED NOW?

Whatever time it takes, the principal is the same.

(I'm quite sure I walk at more than 3 mph BTW! I've got an off-road sat nav (Memory Map) on my phone that tracks my route and logs all the stats, I'll take the dog out an then post up my average speed)

How would HR know an employee could actually do that sort of mileage anyway...even though they may appear to be of good health. How many office based jobs, for instance, require prior and on-going cardio vascular fitness tests :rolleyes: ;)

Re the walk with the dog, no running....OK? lol

Just yanking your chain.... :) .

Come to think of it, I actually did 8 miles with the dog this morning and even with a bit of messing about , was back home in about 2.5 Hrs. We did do a bit of sprint work mind. Usually, we'd average about 3.5 mph or about 4 mph when really going for it.

[Dave20046]

Agreed, but what is a reasonable distance to expect people to walk ?

I'm reasonably fit, walking a couple of miles for me is now big deal. But I know people that physically couldnt walk two miles. I'm serious, one person I work with cant walk up 3 flights of stairs in our office without being red faced and out of breath when they get to the top floor.

10 miles unless they have a registered disability I say. :salut:
That said, I saw a bloke with one leg braving it on 2 sticks this morning

[TazDaz]

We'll be in trouble if there's WW3 (without N bombs) no bulldog spirit in existance :confused:

You'd get some of it rising to the surface....when, not if, WW3 happens you'd see a lot more patriotism.

[maviczap]

If you dont make any effort / cant be bothered then you either take it as holiday or you loose pay.

But still they take the p*ss as demonstrated by my colleague in the last dump of snow we had, who refused to drive two miles across town to work as she "didnt feel safe driving" and refused to walk saying the pavements were slippy.

A girl in the finance department chucked a strop yesterday and wanted to go home, because it was snowing, which it was but it wasnt settling...

Stool pidgeon ;)

Good on you Fizz. We've no snow here, but we had loads earlier in the year. Loads of people who lived within walking distance could have made it in, but didn't. Really grips my **** when people get paid for not turning in when they could have walked.

I did full shifts and was often one of the last to leave :evil:

[metalangel]

You'd get some of it rising to the surface....when, not if, WW3 happens you'd see a lot more patriotism.

Reminds me of Threads, post-WW3, they're standing in the frozen, nuclear-blasted moors outside Sheffield arguing whether or not to eat a dead sheep. Did radiation kill it?

"Sheep don't die of the cold," says the guy.

[Lissa]

I can do the mile and a half to work in twenty minutes, in good conditions. At the start of this year I made it in despite awful conditions in half an hour but with several falls.

My biggest problem is, I don't get company sick pay. Why should I risk being off work and skint for three months because I've broken my leg trying to get to work?

[fizzwheel]

Stool pidgeon ;)

It did irritate me. I'd got in on the worst day, just by using our 4 x 4, I would have walked otherwise. The other days I was able to get the car out and get in that way. One of my colleagues had cycled in on his mountain bike.

My colleague that refused to drive in, had a mile and a half walk at most, or could have used the buses as they were running, yet refused to make any effort to come into work.

When my boss asked me how I had got to work. I told him I had driven the car and I coudlnt see any reason my colleague couldnt drive either, I even offered to go and pick her up. He phoned me back a few minutes later to say that my colleague was on their way. He wasnt very amused about it either.

Thing is Liz took the 4 x 4 drove the 60 miles to work and then promptly got sent home again and I think that happened two days on the trott, so playing devils advocate, whats the point of going in and struggling through the bad weather if on arrival at work you just get sent home again, doesnt exactly encourage people to make an effort.

[Littlepeahead]

I have a 120 mile round trip each day that relies on bus, train, tube, then another bus or 20 minute walk. I rang the boss yesterday and asked if I could take the day off as holiday as I had no meetings. He was fine with that. I could have worked from home but fancied a day off as I have loads of holiday to use up. Now today I had a film crew in to look after and it was Russ, the producer of Long Way Round and Long Way Down. He made it across Mongolia and along the Road Of Bones so I knew a bit of snow today wasn't going to make him cancel filming.

[-Ralph-]

Agreed, but what is a reasonable distance to expect people to walk ?

I'm reasonably fit, walking a couple of miles for me is now big deal. But I know people that physically couldnt walk two miles. I'm serious, one person I work with cant walk up 3 flights of stairs in our office without being red faced and out of breath when they get to the top floor.

Why is two miles a big deal for you? Is this an injury or health issue or just because you think a couple of miles is a long way? I also thought you were quite fit.

I can't walk up three flights of stairs without being out of breath, my weight doesn't help, my lifestyle and fitness level certainly doesn't help, and because I'm asthmatic I get into oxygen deficit easily.

So long as my breathing matches my pace though, I could put one foot in front of the other all day long. I regularly walk from Kings Cross St Pancras to Liverpool St if the weather is good and I have the time. Down Farringdon Road to the Museum of London, then along London Wall. It takes me about 45 minutes, and according to Google maps it's 2.8 miles. It wouldn't then bother me to turn round and walk straight back again.

My 62 yr old mother recovering from a historectomy and 60 yr old stepfather who suffers back problems, walked a route in the snow on Sunday morning, which I have just mapped out on google maps at 3.6 miles one-way, so a 7.2 mile walk. Mum said they were out for about 2 hours.

[fenjer]

I haven't been to uni or placement this week. I don't get paid for being at placement anyway, so why should I risk my safety, driving in snowy and icy conditions in the dark to get there?

The schools here have been shut since Monday and will be shut for the rest of the week, so in one respect I'm glad that I'm not going to placement. It is annoying for those who do have to take time off though, and I agree with the sentiment that they should employ teachers from the local area. Sadly I think there is too much "red tape" and healthy and safety style carp going on that will ever resolve schools being shut in bad weather.

Last night there were 3 smashed cars in my street due to people driving badly in the snow. I have watched one of my neighbours take out the street light trying to reverse his car in the drive, and another try to reverse so stupidly that they almost put the car into their living-room. I quite sympathise with Fizz's colleague who doesn't like driving because of other idiots on the road. My dad took me to Asda today and the driving of some people was outrageously bad.

I have however been round to make sure my neighbours are ok, cleared the paths for my neighbours, walked to the shops for them and got them some bits that they needed. It makes me sad that people dont check in on their neighbours or even family in weather like this.

[fizzwheel]

Why is two miles a big deal for you? Is this an injury or health issue or just because you think a couple of miles is a long way? I also thought you were quite fit..

its not a big deal for me. When I broke my wrist in 2009 and couldnt drive, I walked to work instead.

I meant to write "no big deal" but I have fat finger syndrome and mistyped it :p

[yorkie_chris]

What gets me is the trains*, there's a train that goes all the way across f***in Siberia... why the bloody hell do they get "disrupted" by snow?

*Not that I go anywhere near them unless there is NO other alternative!

[fizzwheel]

I quite sympathise with Fizz's colleague who doesn't like driving because of other idiots on the road.

You'd have a different opinion if you had seen the roads. Not a hint of snow on them and they were dry, and had been well gritted. We're talking about a mile and 1/2 drive across a major town, where public transport was running and people were cycling to work.

[fenjer]

You'd have a different opinion if you had seen the roads. Not a hint of snow on them and they were dry, and had been well gritted. We're talking about a mile and 1/2 drive across a major town, where public transport was running and people were cycling to work.

Yeah, I guess. Even here once you get out the streets the main roads are covered in slush and ice, they haven't been cleared well, and in the main the motorways are down to one lane, and that isn't clear.

If I didn't have that far to go I'd walk. Especially if I was getting paid to be there.

[missyburd]

I've been off today and mostly sat by my window drawing. Our house is next to a fairly busy main road and its been rather interesting seeing everyone walking home come lunchtime, some with shopping bags having had to walk back from town. Nice to see people using the legs they were given for a change. Also been chuckling at the 4X4s that take the pi$$ and race along the road in a good few inches of snow while everyone else crawls.

This country really is a joke. Took a mate 3 and a half hours to do his usual 40 min commute home today, just because of the sheer volume of traffic on the roads. Fair enough nobody teaches you how to drive in the snow, this is probably the first experience of snow for a lot of drivers that passed this summer but its still a bloomin' nuisance!

Felt sorry for the horses in the field opposite, up to their eyeballs (literally) in snow trying to forage a bit of grass. Don't see them complaining or rushing to the nearest supermarket to stock up on carrots! :-P

[metalangel]

What gets me is the trains*, there's a train that goes all the way across f***in Siberia... why the bloody hell do they get "disrupted" by snow?

The same reason as was given in Sky News earlier as to why Gatwick is closed while airports in other countries remain open.

This sort of weather does not happen often enough for the equipment needed to mitigate problems (heated points for the railway, heated runway for the airports) to be worth buying in the UK.

Yes, they moan about losing millions of pounds while everything is disrupted, but you can be sure some tw*ttock in a boardroom somewhere was applauded for the short-term savings by not installing the heaters.


Felt sorry for the horses in the field opposite, up to their eyeballs (literally) in snow trying to forage a bit of grass. Don't see them complaining or rushing to the nearest supermarket to stock up on carrots! :-P

They probably don't want to risk snagging their little gentleman on the electric fence as they jump over it ;)

[-Ralph-]

What gets me is the trains*, there's a train that goes all the way across f***in Siberia... why the bloody hell do they get "disrupted" by snow?

*Not that I go anywhere near them unless there is NO other alternative!

Cos all the train drivers decided to have a duvet day!

[LankyIanB]

A bit late in the thread but.... I was working in Denmark last week and it snowed.... cue absolute transport carnage..... they don't have a clue how to deal with it either....

[Stonesie]

I quite like the challange of driving in snow, but i was nearly taken out by a stupid woman in an AUDI lastnight on the M62, she was doing about 15 with her nose nearly against the windscreen and everything else was doing 40 and overtaking her, when i was next to her she decided that moving out to her right about 5 feet was a brilliant idea... Que me having to move out of the tyre tracks of the lorry i was following and the back end deciding it wanted to go first (my own back end was firmly clenched) but i managed to recover it after what seamed like ages but was probably only a couple of seconds.

Not looking forward to work tomorrow, very few of our buses have tyres suitable for this weather, winterising them costs more than replacing a few dinged pannels. The sooner they make it law to fit winter tyres the better!

[missyburd]

They probably don't want to risk snagging their little gentleman on the electric fence as they jump over it ;)
Nah we're in Yorkshire, just the nasty barbed wire up here, can't afford electricity you know :-P

[Smudge]

http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy36/smudgek3/100_0412.jpg?t=1291239975

Yorkshire is the place to be, we dont need lecky today!!!

[Ed]

It did irritate me... My colleague that refused to drive in, had a mile and a half walk at most, or could have used the buses as they were running, yet refused to make any effort to come into work.


I had one such lazy employee, in last year's snow she phoned in at 10am to report that she couldn't get her car off of the drive. Everyone else was in, so I called the bus company who reported 'normal service' from Pontesbury, so I then called the lazy employee and told her that I would dock a day's pay. Surprise surprise, she walked in at 11.

I'm so glad I don't have to deal with people like that any more.

[timwilky]

Well my daughter Michelle was sent home from the solicitors practice in
Leeds where she works yesterday morning. The partner up there had decided it was better to shut the office and let staff get home. It only took Michelle 2 &1/2 hours. The office is supposed to be open today and the partner who lives over there said she would text Michelle at 6:30 if the office was open. She did and offered her the choice of taking today as flex or coming in. She left at 6:35.

[pookie]

was lovely and toasty in london yesterday. I felt like the michelin man when i turned up in my snow gear.

Why dont the councils give each household a bucket and spade along with each recycle bin and we can all go out and clear the pavements and roads.

I'm off to the shops with my rucksack for a bit of christmas shopping :)

[G]

To be fair we have had nearly 2ft of snow locally here, which you can't prepare for as it happens once in a blue moon.

I work in Denmark, I woke up last week out the to roughly 10cm of snow and though balls... the car I was driving had winter tyres though, and the authorities had already cleared the footpaths, roads and cycle paths.

[Gazza77]

I've been pondering what is reasonable in terms of effort to get to work today, as I've been a bit stuck. I set off early this morning, but a few hundred yards from my house, found myself stuck on a hill in a 3 foot deep drift and had to dig myself out. Although some of the roads here have since been ploughed by a local farmer, they haven't been gritted and as such there is now a compacted layer of snow and ice that you can barely walk on let alone drive, so using the car at the moment is out of the question. Walking to work is also out, at it's 16 miles away. Buses aren't running, so that only leaves the train. That would be a minimum of a 4 hour round trip if everything were running smoothly, but I know that although services are running, there are some big delays on the trains I'd need, and some services on the relevent lines have been cancelled. At what point is it pointless going, when it would take most of the day to get there for a couple of hours.

I'd like to be able to work from home in these situations as my wife can, but although we both work for the NHS doing pretty similar jobs, the two organisations we work for have completely different views on home-working, so she's hard at it whilst I'm on a days annual leave.

[G]

I've been pondering what is reasonable in terms of effort to get to work today


I spent 4 hours clearing our cul de sac with 3 neighbours yesterday... it was 2ft deep and we now have about 5 6ft piles of snow which will probably still be there in a couple of months time.

All so I could get down south to be in meetings all day today.

Now I'm stuck in a nice hotel conference facility as it snowed 6" here last night. Theres worse places to be stuck though.

[dizzyblonde]

Well it didn't snow here as much as was expected overnight.
Peg was supposed to be going to work for 11am today til 8, but decided to go in earlier, as its supposed to be happening all over again later today. He spent a long time digging Landy out from under its blanket.
For rush hour traffic to Bradford, it was surprisingly quiet. There were loads of abandoned cars but people must have taken the day off work and he got into work without delay.
At least if it does come down heavy later, he has got a full days pay in, and can finish before it gets too bad.

[Gazza77]

Well it didn't snow here as much as was expected overnight. Peg was supposed to be going to work for 11am today til 8, but decided to go in earlier, as its supposed to be happening all over again later today. For rush hour traffic to Bradford, it was surprisingly quiet. There were loads of abandoned cars but people must have taken the day off work and he got into work without delay.
At least if it does come down heavy later, he has got a full days pay in, and can finish before it gets too bad.

Likewise, we only had a dusting, it's the drifting that's the problem. It was a bit hairy between Oxenhope and Hebden last night on my way home, I imagine it will be a mare today, if you can get across at all.

[454697819]

If you have a day off because of snow, you should not only not get paid, but you should have a days wages deducted from your pay, unless overall attendance at your workplace that day was less than 50%. If half the employees can get in, then there's no excuse for the other half. If you really couldn't get in having made every possible effort, which doesn't include looking out of the window and going "no way", then you should have to lodge an appeal to your HR dept, to have the days wages refunded.

You can walk 10 miles in two hours FFS!

That would sort it!

ha funny.. dont think the boss would appreciate the 3 series in a hedge... hence I am working from home..;-)

[speedplay]

If you have a day off because of snow, you should not only not get paid, but you should have a days wages deducted from your pay, unless overall attendance at your workplace that day was less than 50%. If half the employees can get in, then there's no excuse for the other half. If you really couldn't get in having made every possible effort, which doesn't include looking out of the window and going "no way", then you should have to lodge an appeal to your HR dept, to have the days wages refunded.

You can walk 10 miles in two hours FFS!

That would sort it!


I would usually agree with this but...


I had to go upto stoke yesterday to collect the company car as "it was too bad to deliver to leicester".

I went out of my way to collect the car and got a call this morning saying "stay in bed and get paid for it mate as the roads are too bad"


Who am I to argue about having my first ever days wage for nothing?!

[davepreston]

good on michelle always a trooper was at work yesterday and the office workers left early as soon as it started to snow because they wanted to get back before it snowed then in, WE HAD 1CM OF SNOW!!!!!! i worked for three hours walking and on the busses after that bloody froze my ass off
gemma.

[454697819]

its quite clear a lot of ppl on this thread don't live rurally,

If I could get my car on the main road.. sure I'd try driving to work, but I wont get a pat on the back for trying, being the only one there and putting up with **** all day, and stuffing my shiny company car in a ditch is frowned upon..

Instead I have a vpn to my server, my emails set up and ta da.. home office, If I get grief when I get in ill politely explain that I made it in every day last year as I had a 4x4 but this year I am not taking the risk if they really kick up a stink... then Today I am sick

its one day in 365 I have failed to make it in due to anything other than genuine sickness or legit holiday.

[speedplay]

its quite clear a lot of ppl on this thread don't live rurally,

If I could get my car on the main road.. sure I'd try driving to work, but I wont get a pat on the back for trying, being the only one there and putting up with **** all day, and stuffing my shiny company car in a ditch is frowned upon..

Instead I have a vpn to my server, my emails set up and ta da.. home office, If I get grief when I get in ill politely explain that I made it in every day last year as I had a 4x4 but this year I am not taking the risk if they really kick up a stink... then Today I am sick

its one day in 365 I have failed to make it in due to anything other than genuine sickness or legit holiday.

For the last 15 years I have made it into work no matter what.
Illness and weather were not a real issue, I even signed myself out of hospital to go back to work, But then self employment will do that to you.

I dont live rurally but the hill out of my estate is usually impassable after the ********s have spun the life out of it trying to get out of here.


I have a shiny new company car and dont really mind if I chuck it in a ditch as its not mine ;)

[454697819]

For the last 15 years I have made it into work no matter what.
Illness and weather were not a real issue, I even signed myself out of hospital to go back to work, But then self employment will do that to you.

I dont live rurally but the hill out of my estate is usually impassable after the ********s have spun the life out of it trying to get out of here.


I have a shiny new company car and dont really mind if I chuck it in a ditch as its not mine ;)

fine... ill get my keys.... ;)

(not really)

[Owenski]

its quite clear a lot of ppl on this thread don't live rurally,


+1

took me just under an hour to do less than 2miles to the motorway, very hilley route (no choice in this region) Once on the motorway and heading into the city it was clearer than on a weekend. Very little traffic and full use of the motorway so I made the last 14miles in less than 30mins. If you live within that 14mile radius of a city then you wont have a clue what its like outside it.

If I'd have lived on a route that didnt use motorways or duel carridgeways then you could be certain that there'd be no chance of me making it in. 16miles at a rate of 2miles an hour would have me at work in time to set off home again ie pointless.

If you live near main roads and bus routes you'll have no idea what all the fuss is about, if you dont then you'll prob be a bit tired of been brandished lazy for using the snow as an excuse for some time off.
Not to say some people dont take the pi55, as Fizz and Ed described some folk will try get a "snow day" regardless. But dont discredit the genuine few who dont have 4x4, dont have the confidence to drive in the stuff, and live where public transport has been cancelled.

FTR: If didnt have a cheap POS car then I'd have not made the effort to get here.

[maviczap]

If only I could work from home..... unfortunately mine is the type I cannot do from home

Yes, I can do to odd report, look at email on the barstardberry but 99% is out there, not inside :confused: But thats what makes my job interesting

[454697819]

If only I could work from home..... unfortunately mine is the type I cannot do from home

Yes, I can do to odd report, look at email on the barstardberry but 99% is out there, not inside :confused: But thats what makes my job interesting

I sort of envy you, 10 yrs in paper pushing nearly..

I need to get a trade sorted and get out... but its warm and cosy in here :-)

[speedplay]

If only I could work from home..... unfortunately mine is the type I cannot do from home

Yes, I can do to odd report, look at email on the barstardberry but 99% is out there, not inside :confused: But thats what makes my job interesting


I'm in a luck position where my job is 50-50 office and site :)

[maviczap]

Sometimes the job is cursed and I wish I could do something a bit more normal, but I have done purely office based work and it drove me nuts.

[AndyBrad]

im my opinion (bearing in mind i dont live in the rural areas of our region but know people that do) if your out in the sticks then yes your screwed basically! However a reasonable efford should be made to get in.

thing is im my area (brighouse/hudds/halifax) there has been very very poor effort to keep the roads clear. On my way into and from hudds a main route over a large hill its not been gritted at all. Its dangerous. Im sure they are supposed to be using part of the council tax and road fund license i give them to maintain the highways? why is it not been done? they were fully aware of the incomming weather. if i have to take a day off without pay i shall be attempting to claim it back from them! they wind me up for continually falling below par in the services they provide.


If you live down south then yea im not supprised there taking snow days. to be fair im supprised london hasnt shut down and why its taken so long. Bet there were people not getting into work because of the rain last month?

[454697819]

well as the roads cleared at 2pm I went in.. 6 miles not too bad..

coming back.. that was another matter maximum, 15 mph wheel spining on the fresh snow laid on frost.,...

ill be working from home again tomorrow.. but ALL DAY!

[fizzwheel]

It seems that work are taking a hardline approach now.

Either come to work or

1. You dont get paid
2. You make the time up
3. You take it as holiday

No other options. Down purely to the fact that the last snow dump we had in January people took the p*ss...

Surprisingly good turnout at work today, was expecting an empty office and the carpark was full by 8:30 like it would have been on any other day.

[dizzyblonde]

No other options. Down purely to the fact that the last snow dump we had in January people took the p*ss...

.


If only all companies were like that. Peg travels furthest and mister manager was suprised he went in this morning, and early at that. As usual everyone else took the pee and the usual waffle from most was to be expected, who live only a couple of miles away. Even though he went in early, hes still there.....well hes worked over I know that, but is probably stuck in stupid traffic, as hes later than expected.

[-Ralph-]

I can't see any indication in this thread as to where people live, other than the little 'Location' bit on the left.

I lived rurally right up until I went to University, and apart from 3 years in Edinburgh have lived rurally ever since.

Here are a couple of pictures from my neighbours, where I used to live in Scotland (I still own the house) and they have 12-18 inches with deeper drifts in places without any exaggeration. This is in the highest village in the Scottish Central belt where they decided to put the television transmitter (about 950ft above sea level), about 25 miles from Glasgow in one direction and the same from Edinburgh in the other. Pretty rural by most peoples standards. Guess what, lived there through 6 winters, saw a foot of snow or more at least once a year, and never once got "snowed in"! As you can see this week they got the spades and shovels out, cleared the roads and driveways, and they all went to work!

It's a mentality thing, of course there will be circumstances where you "can't" go somewhere, but there is a big difference between "can't" which means you have tried and failed, tried again and failed again, and "won't" which means you've looked at the snow and decided it's too deep, or you can't be bothered to use a shovel, or you've decided that you don't want to take a risk.

How would everyone who thinks travelling in this weather is unreasonable, be able to manage living in a colder country where there's a foot of snow on the ground from November through to March?

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/156710_1503511834528_1436213415_31177501_6453095_n .jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/156185_1503504034333_1436213415_31177475_6759432_n .jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/154181_1503502994307_1436213415_31177473_8226968_n .jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/IMG_0792.jpg

[speedplay]

It's a mentality thing, of course there will be circumstances where you "can't" go somewhere, but there is a big difference between "can't" which means you have tried and failed, tried again and failed again, and "won't" which means you've looked at the snow and decided it's too deep, or you can't be bothered to use a shovel, or you've decided that you don't want to take a risk.



Playing devils advocate here.

How do you assess the risk of how dangerous driving conditoins are?

Now as I've said previously, I do drive given all conditions but I am a very confident driver with well over 45k a year under my belt for more or less the last 10-15 years (all figures are approximations due to Ralph being a pedantic git ;) ) BUT there is always the variables that you cannot account for.
i.e black ice on the road just as the knog on the mountain bike wearing his ipod crosses in front of you.

How would I feel knowing I had taken the risk and killed or seriously injured someone, I just know.

Sometimes, work is just work, its not the centre of our lives:rolleyes:

[-Ralph-]

On snow and ice there is only one danger level to assess isn't there? Black ice is not the same risk as snow, and the ice caused from snow, both are damn obvious and clearly visible. The scenario you describe with the black ice could happen on any day in winter, when most of the buggers who refuse to drive this week are out speeding around in a world of their own! (not those on this thread of course as I assume we are all attentive bikers)

2500 people died on Britain roads in 2008, or an average of nearly 7 a day. In the past week 1 person has been killed in an RTA in the snow on the M18, which was a jack knife suggesting the truck driver was going too fast and had to brake hard. The roads are a damn sight more dangerous when everyone is asleep and complacent doing 60-70 mph on an A road, than when driving in snow doing 20-30 mph on an A road. There may be more accidents in the snow, but they are mainly minor cosmetic damage, not KSI's.

[Messie]

I'm rying to think of the equivalent of snow based one-upmanship

Chilly-willy waving perhaps?

[andrewsmith]

I'm rying to think of the equivalent of snow based one-upmanship

Chilly-willy waving perhaps?

Never eat yellow snow? :smt040

[urbane1]

It's a mentality thing, of course there will be circumstances where you "can't" go somewhere, but there is a big difference between "can't" which means you have tried and failed, tried again and failed again, and "won't"

How would everyone who thinks travelling in this weather is unreasonable, be able to manage living in a colder country where there's a foot of snow on the ground from November through to March?


As someone who lives where there is snow on the ground at least five months of the year along with temperatures dropping below -45 C at times, it is certainly a mentality thing. People here don't even think about not venturing out. Having said that we depend on the City keeping the main roads clear, buses and trains running no matter how bad it gets, and places being open when you get there.

[-Ralph-]

I'm rying to think of the equivalent of snow based one-upmanship

Chilly-willy waving perhaps?

Having had to leave my 3yr old son with his grandmother and not see him from Sunday night until this morning, so that I was able to go to Leeds for a meeting on Tuesday, which the customer then cancelled at the last minute.

Then having driven into central London today for another meeting because the trains weren't running, having checked before I left that the customer was already at his office five minutes away from our London office and could make the meeting, only then to have him cancel 20 minutes before the meeting because it had started to snow and he had decided to go home (wasn't settling anywhere and I drove back out of London a couple hours later with no problems at all) .

On both occasions there was no reason at all why they couldn't have got there.

This is nothing to do with one-upmanship or willy waving, and everything to do with ****ed-off-manship at the bunch of lame and lazy, or psychotic and panicking barstewards, who can't seem to operate as soon as it snows!

[speedplay]

I'm rying to think of the equivalent of snow based one-upmanship

Chilly-willy waving perhaps?


I think Ralph is in dire need of a snow-job?:rolleyes:

[Specialone]

I think Ralph is in dire need of a snow-job?:rolleyes:

Lol, not bad Rob, not bad :)

[fizzwheel]

who can't seem to operate as soon as it snows!

i think that will change if over the years we get harsher winters and get more snow. People will get more used to it and dealing with it, particularly with regard to getting about and driving in it.

With respect Ralph, you are used to dealing with Snow, you know what to do and what to take with you. Many people dont, the see it coming down and they panic.

Our office was full this morning, as I would expect on a day with no snow, a couple of years ago, it would have been empty with only a few of us in.

Difference is, this is the 3rd winter now we have had it, and people are getting used to it and realise that an inch or snow doesnt mean the world has to stop and a little effort will get you to where you want to go and then they realise afterall its not that hard. Something which you already know.

[andrewsmith]

I think Ralph is in dire need of a snow-job?:rolleyes:

would this do instead :lol:
http://uk-mkivs.net/store/Forums/16/2155981/GetAttachment.jpg

[Pwalo]

I've seen the news articles about the lovely wether you Northen folks have been experiencing.

You'll be pleased to know that it's a splendid 25C down here in Un Zed, without a cloud in the sky. The biggest riding problem is the sunstrike.

[dizzyblonde]

I can't see any indication in this thread as to where people live, other than the little 'Location' bit on the left.



Well I don't live on a flying horse:rolleyes:

Gazza77 lives in Old Town Hebden Bridge, which is semi rural. Hebden Bridge is a village within the wider range of Halifax. Hebden is well loved for hiking, lots of moorland aound it. I live a stones throw, in another village of Halifax, called Highroadwell. Both are quite high, well higher parts of Halifax that is, its got quite a few villages under its umbrella, known as Calderdale.
As a rule of thumb here where I live, Queens Rd is the cut of between no snow and blizzard weather! There can be a cm in the town centre, and for us in this part of town there will be a foot of it, where Gazza lives it'll be deeper. They don't grit up here too well, once the main road gets a sprinkling buses can't get up here, lots of hills you see.

So there, thats a small description of here:smt039

[-Ralph-]

i think that will change if over the years we get harsher winters and get more snow. People will get more used to it and dealing with it, particularly with regard to getting about and driving in it.

With respect Ralph, you are used to dealing with Snow, you know what to do and what to take with you. Many people dont, the see it coming down and they panic.

Our office was full this morning, as I would expect on a day with no snow, a couple of years ago, it would have been empty with only a few of us in.

Difference is, this is the 3rd winter now we have had it, and people are getting used to it and realise that an inch or snow doesnt mean the world has to stop and a little effort will get you to where you want to go and then they realise afterall its not that hard. Something which you already know.

1 in 4 schools shut and 2/5th of the UK workforce absent from work today. I'd suggest as with my rant which kicked this debate off, the reason your workplace was full today was because they don't get paid if they are not there, and the snows been here all week, and they can't afford a week without pay, so they have all come back to work.

These are in the majority adults were are talking about, not 20 yr olds who have only had the last three winters to get used to driving in snow.

[-Ralph-]

Well I don't live on a flying horse:rolleyes:

Gazza77 lives in Old Town Hebden Bridge, which is semi rural. Hebden Bridge is a village within the wider range of Halifax. Hebden is well loved for hiking, lots of moorland aound it. I live a stones throw, in another village of Halifax, called Highroadwell. Both are quite high, well higher parts of Halifax that is, its got quite a few villages under its umbrella, known as Calderdale.
As a rule of thumb here where I live, Queens Rd is the cut of between no snow and blizzard weather! There can be a cm in the town centre, and for us in this part of town there will be a foot of it, where Gazza lives it'll be deeper. They don't grit up here too well, once the main road gets a sprinkling buses can't get up here, lots of hills you see.

So there, thats a small description of here:smt039

Yep, and I'll bet all the hardy Yorkshire folk up where you live just get on with it.

[speedplay]

1 in 4 schools shut



I think youll find a lot of that is the health and safety side of things.

Modern blame culture has made it near impossible to cover things like snow against some leech who wants a few quid for nothing.

[dizzyblonde]

Yep, and I'll bet all the hardy Yorkshire folk up where you live just get on with it.


Sort of, I said to YC earlier I have noticed people being a little more 'neighbourly'. But yeah, people need to go to work, clog up the roads in the attempt though. Even the old fellas carry on and get on with it here!

[grimey121uk]

Reminds me of last year, I made it in every single day apart from one day when it was extremely bad and work even closed for the day.

The thing is a lived 27 miles away from work and managed to make it in all but once, however many people who lived only a few miles away were constantly off.

[maviczap]

I've seen the news articles about the lovely wether you Northen folks have been experiencing.

You'll be pleased to know that it's a splendid 25C down here in Un Zed, without a cloud in the sky. The biggest riding problem is the sunstrike.

And the tar running off the roads in streams, so my mate told me

[dizzyblonde]

Well, I suppose I'll have to get the pram out tomorrow and go see civilisation, might even have to use one of those things called a bus!

[Pwalo]

And the tar running off the roads in streams, so my mate told me

Yes indeedy. Only quality road repairs made in the Land Down Under the Land Down Under.

Keep warm!

[maviczap]

Yes indeedy. Only quality road repairs made in the Land Down Under the Land Down Under.

Keep warm!

Have you seen 2012 the film, its a sign ;)

[Owenski]

I think youll find a lot of that is the health and safety side of things.

Modern blame culture has made it near impossible to cover things like snow against some leech who wants a few quid for nothing.

+1 Mrs Owenski was sent home yesterday and also told not to go in today
Not that she wasnt going to go in, but that the school made the descision to close.
of those 4/5 closed schools at least 1 parent must then stay home for that child. That will have a massive impact on the number of adults able to work. It does kind of domino effect in fairness.

The rest of the stuff you say ralph I agree with the principal your convaying but not many of your arguments. the RTA thing especially, so there is only 1 fatal in a week. But how many little bumps have there been? I've certainly seen (either happen or the aftermath) a lot more in a week than I've seen in any other week. Put that into context with the ratio of cars on the roads this week compeared to a summers day and it makes for shocking reading.
Thats the people that thought like yourself that thought "**** this its only a bit of snow" been hit or hitting someone who thought "jeez better go to work or the boss will kill me" and now they've both got a damaged car and lost thier no claims now as a result. As I said so its not fatal and its no serious injury either but its still an accident at at some point even the best intentions (trying to get to work in adverse weather) cant become foolhardy.
Those that feel comfortbale driving in it - should. (and no doubt do).
THose that arnt comfortable driving in it - should get public transport (and practice but not during the commute cos thats wreckless)

IMHO there should be some sort of service provided (for a fee or whatever) maybe by the police (although they're pretty busy ATM). Where by people can go along and be taught how to control slides, predict the slush and forward traffic movement, learn that full power is actually dumb and generally be confident but also learn to respect the conditions.
Until people either get that or regular exposure to the stuff then unfortunatly our roads will remain a mixture of chaos and vacent.

[thefallenangel]

Well i work for Welsh Water and try getting up elan Valley in the snow yesterday wasn't a problem. However freezing temperatures trying to get trace heating going was another problem. Everything under 6" of snow looking for pipework and a reason to find anything.

I've gona from Newport to Builth Wells in a Combo van via hereford using back lane roads which was fine. Got in at 7pm and do you know what?

Everyone is a poof. And yes i get full sick pay and snow doesn't bother me. If we can get up to a works ( and some of these are as remote as britian gets) we get a 4x4 vehicle and get up there but if the combo van can get 90% of places then people should get out of bed and with a knackered ankle i can do it.

And you want cold problems, -12 degrees wiring up heaters in a freezing building.

[Ed]

...but if people stopped home there would be less CO2 and less global warming and less climatic disorder. so it's everyone commuting to work that's causing it;)

Pwalo. You got room for three more down there? Hard working me and missus, and tall leggy blonde daughter?

[speedplay]

Pwalo. You got room for three more down there? Hard working me and missus, and tall leggy blonde daughter?


How old is the daughter...?


;)

[Berlin]

I had one such lazy employee, in last year's snow she phoned in at 10am to report that she couldn't get her car off of the drive. Everyone else was in, so I called the bus company who reported 'normal service' from Pontesbury, so I then called the lazy employee and told her that I would dock a day's pay. Surprise surprise, she walked in at 11.

I'm so glad I don't have to deal with people like that any more.

A guy I know in Edinburgh had 3 out of 90 of his employees show up the first day it snowed. He sent them all a message saying no show, no pay not actually enforceable) and had full attendance the next (and much worse snow) day! :)

I've fitted mild 4x4 tyres to my van, let them down to 15 psi, filled it with junk and despite two foot of snow, I'm yet to get stuck in the slightest this week. Everywhere I've set off to I've got to (easily). However 90% of the places I got to were closed because the staff didn't show up.

I've even been towing people out that were stuck and I'm in an Iveco van, not a landrover!

C

[-Ralph-]

How old is the daughter...?


;)

She's about 13 mate!

[fizzwheel]

Strangely theres alot less people in today than there was yesterday...

Its no colder today, and we've had no more snow overnight and all the main roads are open and clear of snow, side roads are bit nasty though...

[-Ralph-]

Strangely theres alot less people in today than there was yesterday...

Its no colder today, and we've had no more snow overnight and all the main roads are open and clear of snow, side roads are bit nasty though...

It's Friday. Day off today means a long weekend! :smt102

We all live in Lazytown!