The Editor of HR Case Studies makes his way into work last week
According to a YouGov poll reported by People Management journal, up to 124 million working hours were lost in a single week due to the adverse weather conditions.
The snow which covered most of the UK in the first full working week following the Christmas break affected three-quarters of all employees.
Here’s a list of the effects of the snow on UK businesses
- 45 per cent of British workers faced travel disruptions
- 71 per cent claimed that the lack of grit on major roads was the major hindrance
- 78 per cent of the sissy chaps from the south-east claimed that they were disrupted by the weather
- 54 per cent of the sturdy employees from the West Midlands (where there was more snow than in the south-east) suffered disruption to their working
- 50 per cent of the 2,000 people surveyed felt pressurised to get into work
- 10 per cent had to postpone or cancel business meetings
- 8 per cent of workers were forced to stay at home due to school closures
- 11 per cent of staff who were unable to travel to their workplace were able to work remotely from home
- 12 per cent of British workers were unable to work at all
The total cost of the adverse weather so far in 2010 could be as high as £450 million, according to estimates from the Forum of Private Businesses.
Snow disruption costs businesses over 100 million working hours
- Come on, admit it: how did you cope with the snow?
Personally, I coped with the snow ok. My son's school was only closed one day which was quite unusual in the Borough.
ReplyDeleteAs to the rest of the "sissy chaps", when depending on transport networks that seem to grind to a halt with a dusting of snow - they struggled to get into London as many major roads were not gritted. Once in London all ran well but anyone within the commuter belt was struggling.
So, you sturdy north of Watford people - you should be proud of yourselves! :-)
Lou "Sissy Southerner!!"
In all these attempts to count the cost of the adverse weather conditions I do think that there is an aspect that is always overlooked.
ReplyDeleteAs one of those hardy northern folk that actually made it into work, I can tell you that the productivity of those people who actually make it into work is significantly compromised. Why?
Well once in work, the majority of people spend the most of the morning recounting their intrepid tales of ice and snow to anyone willing to listen.
Having done this, they then turn their attention to how they are going to get home! Travel report web sites, weather reports and texts home being the order of the working day.
And it all else fails you can pass the time looking out of the window either skywards (at the snow laiden clouds) or earth bound (commenting on the driving skills of the poor soul skidding their way around the works car park).
I of course am the exception to that rule and once I’ve whipped off my walking boots I ignore every impulse to compare fallen inches!
EBTG