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Meteorologers’ Snow Advice Causes Headaches for Employers
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[Your Name], News Editor
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The recent snowstorm and accompanying advice from meteorologists have employer organizations scrambling to clarify their stance on work-from-home arrangements. Meteorological Institute’s (Meteorologisk Institutt) advice for people to consider working from home has drawn sharp criticism from employer organizations, who maintain that the decision to implement remote work should rest solely with employers.
"This creates significant problems for businesses," says Vegard Einan, regional director of NHO Viken Oslo. "It’s the employer’s responsibility to determine if employees should work from home, not public entities like the Meteorological Institute."
Concerns have been raised in the past when various public actors have advised working from home, leading employers to contact NHO. The institute represents the interests of businesses in Norway.
Anne-Kari Bratten, CEO of the labor union Spekter, echoes Einan’s sentiments, stating, "It’s frustrating when the Meteorological Institute advises working from home, as it’s the employer’s responsibility to make that call."
NHO and Spekter emphasize that employers have the final say in whether employees work remotely or not, irrespective of external advice or circumstances, barring extraordinary situations where authorities impose or recommend remote work through law or regulation, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bård Fjukstad, director of the meteorological division at Meteorologisk Institutt, agrees that the institute should not be advising individuals on whether to work from home. "Our job is to inform people about the weather and its potential consequences, facilitating their decision-making based on their personal circumstances and employment conditions," he says.
As snow and high winds continue to impact Romerike, employers are reminded that the responsibility to advise employees on working arrangements lies squarely with them, not public institutions. Both NHO and Spekter urge employers to communicate openly with their staff regarding work arrangements during periods of adverse weather.
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