Winter Weather

In the age of remote work

Remember snow days, back when we were kids?

Yeah, those aren’t a thing anymore, at least in many places.

Now that we have remote school and remote work options (gee thanks, Covid!), we are more likely to be expected to work through the weather.

As leaders, make plans in advance, so that people know what to expect in bad weather. Set criteria for closing the office. Prioritize the safety of your people—keep them off the roads in dangerous conditions. Make sure they have what they need in advance (e.g., remote access to the files they’ll be working on, etc.), so that people can adapt effectively.

Also consider more flexible hours in weeks when there are weather disruptions—your people may lose power; they may have to take care of young children; they may have additional challenges with their heat, groceries, or need to shovel off the roof during daylight hours. Cut them some slack.

(Photo by Cloris Ying on Unsplash)