I work for a local public school as a teacher. Last Wed. I tried to go to work, a one hour commute, but the roads were very icy, many accidents on road, major roads closed. I tried twice, and could not safely get there. I called from my car phone updating the school of my attempts, and finally my inability to get there. The radio reported that it was the worst driving conditions they had seen in 40 years. The newspaper the next day reported over 40 accidents in my area. The principal has placed a letter of reprimand in my personnel file for failing to meet expected work standards because I did not get to work that day. Can they punish me for not risking my life on unsafe icy roads, even though I tried and let them know each step of the way? The principal says it is not my decision to make! But it is my life. Whose judgement call is it when I live an hour away, and it is my safety in question?

Rita Risser responds:

Unfortunately, it's your principal's judgement that counts. School was open, and your students were there, so road conditions must have been better in that area than they were near your house. After all, it was your choice to live so far away from school. If you are a member of a union, talk to the shop steward to see if there might be a basis for filing a grievance (for instance, others who did not make it in for similar reasons were NOT reprimanded). Otherwise, there's not much you can do from a legal perspective. Of course, you should talk to a local attorney to find out all your rights. Good luck,

Good luck.