People in the UK can legally take time off work because of snow

Britain is bracing for the coldest night of the year – but it’s not all bad news.

Snowfall and low temperatures have forced many schools across the country to close, with Met Office forecasters warning temperatures could drop to as low as -12C.

Several UK airports have been forced to temporarily halt flights, with delays to road and rail transport also expected.

But there is a silver lining under all the snow; if your place of work is forced to close because of the inclement weather – you’ll still probably get paid.

According to Gov.uk: “If the workplace is closed because of disruption and the employee doesn’t usually work from home, employers can’t usually deduct pay.”

This means if there is enough snow to close offices, employees will still receive pay for the time they spend at home making snowmen and snow angels.

And, if your office is still open but your child’s school is closed due to the weather, employees legally have the right to time off, as this is considered an official emergency, as discussed on Gov.uk.

“If an employee’s child’s school is closed or their normal childcare arrangements are disrupted, they could have the right for time off to look after them,” the website reads.

However, time off to care for children may or may not be paid, as the government website states: “your employer may pay you for time off to look after dependants but they don’t have to.”

But with blizzards, freezing rain and gales all expected to hit Britain this week, and safety warnings issued for those planning on heading out in the storm, taking the day off from work seems like a pretty good idea.

And as train delays are reported and predictions of over 110,000 vehicle breakdowns are expected, it seems unlikely it will be possible to get to the office anyway. Stay warm!