Without the prospect of a school delay or school cancellation, one would think adults would not have much to be happy about on the eve of a snowstorm. The hope felt by children eagerly anticipating a blizzard is somehow lost on adults tortured by the thought of hours of shoveling and an aching back. The truth is, even with the grim prospect of hours of shoveling looming overhead, adults anticipating a “snow day” from work, very quietly, experience the same excitement as children the night of a major snowstorm. As the first snowflake falls, work-related concerns are supplanted by memories of hot chocolate, sledding, and spending hours hunched down shoving a small lump of loosely packed dry snow around your yard with the hope that, eventually, it will grow in size and serve as the base for one of a family of snowmen and women.
However, before this moment when work-related concerns completely give way to cheer and excitement, it is important that all work-related loose ends are tied up, ensuring you are not ignoring your professional obligations by partaking in snow day fun.
- Don’t just not show up. Although the fact that you should call-in if you intend to stay home may seem evident, if you are a parent dealing with children eager to go outside sledding, it is possible you might forget this step.
- Contact numbers. You never know when a big storm may hit. Keeping in mind not everyone brings their work computers home with them, it is important that you have a number at which you can reach your supervisor for information about office closings, etc. should a major snowstorm hit.
- Know company policy. While some companies require their employees to work remotely when the office is closed, others do not. For example, not every federal employee has remote capabilities, and not all of those that do are required to work from home when the federal government is closed. Know your company’s snow day policy.
- Don’t risk your life. Even if you have mountains of work to do, if the conditions outside aren’t conducive to driving or if your streets have yet to be plowed, don’t risk it: stay home. Your work will be there waiting for you once the conditions have improved.
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