[Adam P]

although no snow has hit us i just wanted to be prepared in case it does hit or i'm asked.

so say snow hits and no one can get to the building including the companies employees for a week. we will still bill them as this isn't our fault nor theirs and they'd be paying their employees any way so it's all assumed this'll be the case?

what then happens if the company gets enough employees in that it needs to be cleaned but we can't get our staff in as imo it's not worth the risk for £14 a night etc? do we still bill them even though in the companies opinion it was safe to come in and we haven't?

then what if i find it's ok for me but staff say it's "not ok for them" (looking for a day off and found their excuse) do i still pay staff even if i find it's ok to get their or would i class it as as though they just aren't coming in and i need to find someone else to do it and pay the other cleaner instead?

[BDCS]

I have a company vechicle specially equiped for dealing with visits in the snow - the one on the left  :

[Pristine Clean]

Hi Surrey,

Depends on your contract or policy.

If it is reasonably safe to get in then staff should get in. If you feel they are taking the micky then in our employee contract its at our disgression whether they will get paid.

Generally you know whether they can get in or not. But if you force them to drive and they crash due to ice or snow and it was worse and unsafe you are responsible, especially if they are in a company vehicle like some of our employees are.

If you cant get to your clients in bad weather that again depends on clauses in your contract. We have had some changes on various sites so some companies get a credit if we are unable to attend.

However most of our contracts pay in bad weather even if we cannot attend as thats is what is stated in the contract and the rest of the remaining sites will transfer over to the new contract by March next year.

Dave

[dianegreenwood]

We have a policy on our domestic cleaning which is that if we can't get to a clients home because their road is impassable then the client is still charged but we make up the time on future visits.  This keeps cashflow healthy and it costs less to do extra hours than to cancel and not get paid.  I rang every client every morning last year to make sure we could get through and all the girls had shovels and blankets in their cars just in case!  I also briefed the whole team on how to drive in the snow and I'm going to give out a leaflet next week with tips so they have no excuses!

Not sure re commercial cleaning as all our office cleaning staff could walk to their clients so not really got an excuse.  If they don't need us because they are closed due to  the snow then they would be charged as normal as I'd still have to pay the staff.

My understanding about staff getting to work when you believe its perfectly safe to do so is that they don't get paid.  If, however you close the business because of the weather (as we had to do twice last year) then you will have to pay them for the day.

Cheers

Diane

www.freshlymaid.co.uk

[Griffus]

Obviously depends on the wording of individual contracts but I don't see how a charge can be applied if no attendance was achieved. This is especially true if the customer manages to attend but the cleaner's do not.

NO WORK = NO CHARGE (or discount if billed monthly).

[Adam P]

ok so having a look it I guess i can't charge when we don't clean as it's not in my terms? for instance 2 schools have closed today as no pupils or teachers can get in. this doesn't mean we can't clean but pointless to even try as it's not needed and also we wouldn't be able to get in. although they closed the school it's our problem then if we can't get in?

this is all i have in my contract about this which appears a little too vague...

"8.   In the event of the cleaning being prevented by the customer and / or its employee’s or agents including by a trade dispute, it shall be considered as performed and the charge for the said cleaning shall be payable as compensation for time lost and wages paid. This shall include any period where the customer has extended the closure of its premises excess of any statutory holidays (for example over Christmas)."

so from that we charge for xmas and also charge if they close the property, however these schools aren't "closed" to us so we can't charge?

[Griffus]

ok so having a look it I guess i can't charge when we don't clean as it's not in my terms? for instance 2 schools have closed today as no pupils or teachers can get in. this doesn't mean we can't clean but pointless to even try as it's not needed and also we wouldn't be able to get in. although they closed the school it's our problem then if we can't get in?

this is all i have in my contract about this which appears a little too vague...

"8.   In the event of the cleaning being prevented by the customer and / or its employee’s or agents including by a trade dispute, it shall be considered as performed and the charge for the said cleaning shall be payable as compensation for time lost and wages paid. This shall include any period where the customer has extended the closure of its premises excess of any statutory holidays (for example over Christmas)."

so from that we charge for xmas and also charge if they close the property, however these schools aren't "closed" to us so we can't charge?

Based on the section of your T & C's copied above then if the school was 'closed' but access possible then you should have cleaned as per usual. If by 'closed' the school was locked up and inaccessible then as per your T & C's you can charge.

[Adam P]

yeah that's exactly what i thought. what do people have in their t&c's to cover themselves for this? i'd like to add it in our t&c's like dave has said most of his contracts pay in bad weather even if he cannot attend as that's is what is stated in the contract.