September 09, 2010
As London recovers from frenzied days of cancelled tubes and travel chaos, employment solicitors have warned that staff who missed days in the office are not entitled to receive wages.
The tube strikes, reportedly the first of a number planned, plunged the capital into anarchy as trains ground to a halt, forcing thousands of commuters and city workers to walk the streets.
However, experts have confirmed that unless an employee has a provision for paid time off in the event of “extreme unforeseen circumstance” in their contract, employers are under no obligation to pay workers if they did not turn up for work because of the strikes.
Brought about by the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) opposing plans to cut staffing levels, claiming security could be compromised, nearly all tubes lines in London experienced some delays if not complete shutdown.
"This strike action could not have come at a worse time with the capital only just beginning to find its feet after a difficult economic slowdown and many returning to work after the summer break.,” added Colin Stanbridge, Chief Executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“Londoners will still struggle in to work, aided by the additional transport laid on by the Mayor, but the capital will not be as productive as normal and our reputation as the world’s leading business centre will suffer."
According to the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, each day the underground is shut, the economy suffers losses of £48 million.
But, with more industrial action penciled in for October this year, employees should double check their current contracts and discuss with managers options for missed office hours.
