Staff stranded by volcano should not be paid: Bird & Bird and Panonne

Law firms Bird & Bird and Pannone have both advised clients not to pay staff who can’t make it to work because of flight cancellations due to the volcanic ash in the atmosphere. Bird & Bird associate James Froud has suggested an initial a couple of days grace for those stuck in airports in foreign cities, but said that employers should then start talking about "authorised but unpaid leave". Meanwhile, Pannone partner Jim Lister took a more hardline view, essentially advocating the practice of docking pay for staff stuck abroad. He said "if an employee fails to turn up for work the employer is under no obligation to pay them". The firm has not been quite as hard on its own staff, who have been permitted to take paid leave – thus allowing them to use their annual holiday time relaxing in an airport departure lounge.

Staff stranded by volcano should not be paid: Bird & Bird and Panonne rollonfriday.com Fri, Apr 23, 2010