Storms Hanna And Ike - When You Cannot Stay Home From Work?

Eddie Farah

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 415

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We are in the middle of hurricane season in Florida and most of us are keeping an eye on the latest storms, Hanna and Ike. And although it looks like North Florida dodged a bullet again, experiencing tropical storms or hurricanes presents a dillemma for motorists.

With forecasters and the Florida Highway Patrol telling us “don’t go out on the roads unless you have to” what happens if you have to go to work? What if you risk losing your job if you decide to stay home with your children, whose school has been canceled and to follow the recommendations of safety officials?

While it’s advised that you stay off the roads, the simple answer is yes, you can be fired if you don’t.

Florida is an employment-at-will state and that means the employer generally holds all of the cards. Without a written contract that specifies that you can stay home during a tropical storm or hurricane, you have no protection. You can be fired for a good cause, a bad cause or no cause at all. The only areas that are protected are age, race, sex, national origin or disability.

So the concept that a satisfactory job performance should be rewarded with job security and some understanding in the face of a storm- is not something you can rely on. Let's hope you have an understanding employer who would rather his employees be safe than at work worrying about what's happening at home.