RBC Radio. When Bad Weather Makes You Late for Work

If bad weather has kept you from getting to work on time, you are not alone. Find out when lateness is considered excusable and what documents can help protect your rights.

Victoria Arutyunyan, FBK Legal Partner, discussed this on RBC Radio:

If bad weather is the reason you are late for work, it is important to show your employer that you are not at fault. For example, you can send them photos of fallen trees or traffic jams.

Under the Labour Code, being an hour late means being absent from the workplace without a valid excuse, which constitutes a disciplinary offense. The employer has the right to request a written explanation, but if the excuse is proven valid, they cannot fine you or issue a reprimand. Take screenshots from your navigation app showing the time of severe traffic jams, save official emergency warnings from the Ministry of Emergencies, and take photos of fallen trees or flooding along your route. Obtain certificates from transportation companies regarding schedule disruptions if you were traveling, for example, by bus. If you were involved in an accident caused by bad weather, a traffic police certificate is one hundred percent justification for your being late.

As for remote work, you can request it, but your employer may refuse — except in cases where it is genuinely dangerous to come to the office and there is a threat to your life. If your personal apocalypse happens to be merely light rain or a traffic jam that happens every morning, then unfortunately, your being late will be deemed your own fault.