No pay for staff even though they were sent home with no choice?

[Kimbles20]

Hi, I hope someone can help with this -

My fiance and his colleagues have all been sent home today after an email was sent to all the branch managers telling them that for health & safety reasons due to the snow they were closing all the branches at 1.30pm and veryone was to be sent home. This is fair enough but the email also said that all the staff would lose either half a days pay or lose half a days annual leave.

Can the company do this?

If the staff were given no choice about going home they should still get paid, shouldnt they?

Thanks in advance.

Kimbles

[R1Geezer]

It's probably in the contracts they signed when they joined. So yes they can.

[buildersmate]

In the unlikely event that it is, then true. Otherwise wrong.
Refer the Chris' good answer here - same situation applies. You've been laid off.
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Jobs-and-Educat ion/Question701080.html

[Kimbles20]

Thanks both, I dont think it is in their contract. But I think I must not have explained it very well, the employees have not been laid off, they arent builders or labourers and they will be expected to come in tomorrow. If I am honest, the company are probably just trying to save a bit of money by doing this but i am sure it cant be right.