Upcoming Events :
Seminar: Outsourcing and Contract Procurement
Tue 28 Feb 2012
Minerva House, 5 Montague Close, London, SE1 9BB
Volcano ash crisis 'may lead to employment tribunals'
Tue 20 Apr 2010
Many companies could face employment tribunals if they fail to pay colleagues who have been unable to get to work amid this week's travel restrictions.
A cloud of volcanic ash originating in Iceland has led to severe disruption across much of Europe, with flights being grounded and ferries and trains facing extra demand.
As a result, many people have been unable to get home from their holidays and have ended up missing shifts at work.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) believes this could create problems further down the line, as firms may be reluctant to pay colleagues who were stranded abroad and unable to work.
Stephen Alambritis, spokesman for the FSB, told the Telegraph that unless firms have a clearly agreed policy regarding what constitutes an authorised absence, some employees may take legal action if they are not adequately paid.
Ellie Hibberd, an employment solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood Solicitors, said: "If absence is unauthorised, pay could be withheld but doing so could damage morale and employee relations.
"Employers might consider offering the choice of taking further annual leave or unpaid leave; treating the additional day(s) as further annual leave; or taking a view and paying for any additional days missed."
Airspace in the UK has now been reopened, but carriers still have to deal with a huge backlog of passengers.
