Employee Rights During Inclement Weather in Ontario

Can your employer force you to work during a snowstorm in Ontario? Bad weather doesn’t automatically give employees the right to stay home. However, dangerous road conditions, workplace safety concerns and family responsibilities can affect your rights.

Whether you’re dealing with heavy snow, freezing rain, flooding, wildfires or another natural disaster, here’s what Ontario employees need to know about missing work, getting paid and protecting their jobs.

On This Page:

• Do You Have to Work During Bad Weather?
• Can You Be Fired for Missing Work?
• Do You Get Paid for Snow Days?
• Natural Disasters and Employee Rights
• What if Schools Are Closed?
• What Should Employees Do?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Can Your Employer Force You to Come to Work During Bad Weather in Ontario?

Yes, your employer can expect you to attend work during bad weather, but the circumstances matter.

Snowstorms, freezing rain and extreme cold don’t automatically excuse employees from reporting to work. However, road closures, cancelled public transit or dangerous travel conditions may make attending work unreasonable or impossible.

If you can’t safely get to work:

• Tell your employer as early as possible
• Explain the conditions preventing you from attending
• Ask about remote work, a later start or another arrangement
• Keep records of weather alerts, road closures and your communications

Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act also gives eligible employees the right to refuse unsafe work in certain circumstances. However, the formal work refusal process addresses workplace hazards. Dangerous conditions during your ordinary commute don’t automatically qualify.

Can You Be Fired for Not Going to Work Because of Bad Weather?

You can face discipline for missing work without authorization, but an employer must consider the circumstances.

There’s a significant difference between an employee simply choosing not to attend work and someone who can’t get to work because roads are closed or travel is genuinely dangerous.

Relevant factors include:

• How severe the weather conditions were
• Whether roads or public transit were operating
• Whether you promptly notified your employer
• Whether reasonable alternatives were available
• Your employer’s workplace policies and previous practices

If your employer fires you for missing work during a snowstorm, the dismissal may still trigger significant severance obligations.

Being dismissed for missing one shift doesn’t automatically mean your employer has just cause to deny severance.

Learn more about termination without cause in Ontario and your rights if you’ve been wrongfully dismissed.

Do You Get Paid if Your Workplace Closes Because of Bad Weather?

Not automatically. If your workplace closes because of snow, freezing rain or another weather emergency, whether you get paid depends on your employment terms and the circumstances.

Your employment contract or workplace policies may provide paid weather days or other compensation.

What if You Miss Work Because of a Snowstorm?

If your workplace remains open but you can’t attend, your employer may not have to pay you for the missed hours. You may be able to arrange vacation time, another available form of paid leave or a schedule change.

What if You Arrive at Work and Are Sent Home?

Ontario’s Employment Standards Act has a three-hour rule. Eligible employees who regularly work more than three hours a day, report to work and are sent home early may qualify for minimum pay.

However, there’s an important exception: The three-hour rule doesn’t apply when storms, power failures or similar events beyond the employer’s control cause work to stop completely.

A business simply being quieter because of bad weather doesn’t necessarily qualify for that exception.

What if a Natural Disaster Makes Your Workplace Unsafe?

Floods, wildfires, extreme heat and other natural disasters can affect your right to work safely in Ontario. Employers must take reasonable precautions to protect workers from workplace hazards.

If a disaster makes your workplace unsafe or forces it to close:

• Unsafe conditions: You may have the right to refuse dangerous work under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, subject to its rules and exceptions.
• Workplace closures: You aren’t automatically entitled to pay while the business is closed. Your contract, workplace policies and employment standards may affect your rights.
• Termination: If your employer permanently closes or eliminates your job, you may still be entitled to severance. The circumstances of the closure matter.

A natural disaster doesn’t automatically qualify you for job-protected emergency leave. Ontario’s Declared Emergency Leave applies only when specific legal requirements are met.

If you’re laid off or fired because of a natural disaster, don’t assume your employer can avoid paying severance simply because the event was beyond its control.

What if Your Child’s School or Daycare Closes Because of Snow?

If a snowstorm closes your child’s school or daycare, your employer may have a duty to consider reasonable accommodation.

Ontario’s Human Rights Code protects employees from discrimination based on family status. Where a genuine childcare obligation creates a conflict with work, an employer may need to consider accommodation up to the point of undue hardship.

Depending on the circumstances, arrangements could include:

• Working from home where feasible
• Adjusting start or finish times
• Changing shifts temporarily
• Using available leave

A school closure doesn’t automatically guarantee paid time off. Employees should explain their childcare situation and discuss reasonable solutions with their employer.

For more information, see our guide to family status accommodation in Ontario.

? Lior Samfiru on Global News: Samfiru Tumarkin LLP founding partner Lior Samfiru discussed snow days, childcare challenges and workplace accommodation with Global News on January 21, 2026. Global News coverage.

What Should You Do if Bad Weather Prevents You From Working?

1. Contact your employer immediately. Don’t wait until after your shift begins.
2. Explain the problem. Describe road closures, dangerous travel conditions or unexpected childcare responsibilities.
3. Ask about alternatives. Remote work, adjusted hours or available leave may help.
4. Keep records. Save weather warnings, workplace messages and any disciplinary notices.
5. Get legal advice if necessary. If you’re disciplined, denied accommodation or fired, find out whether your employer has violated your rights.

Inclement Weather and Work in Ontario: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Refuse to Go to Work Because of a Snowstorm in Ontario?

A snowstorm doesn’t automatically give you the right to miss work. However, dangerous roads, transportation shutdowns or other serious circumstances may affect whether attending work is reasonable. Tell your employer immediately and explain the situation.

Can My Employer Force Me to Drive in Dangerous Weather?

Your employer can expect you to attend scheduled shifts, but dangerous travel conditions should be considered. If driving is part of your actual job duties, workplace safety laws may also apply.

Do Employers Have to Pay Employees for Snow Days?

Not automatically. Pay depends on your employment contract, workplace policies and applicable employment standards. Special rules may apply if you report to work and are sent home early.

Can I Be Fired for Missing Work Because of Bad Weather?

You could be disciplined or dismissed, but the circumstances matter. If you’re fired, you may still be entitled to severance pay. A single weather-related absence doesn’t automatically justify termination without compensation.

What if My Child’s School Closes Because of Bad Weather?

Your employer may have a duty to consider accommodation for genuine childcare obligations under Ontario human rights law. Options can include flexible hours, remote work or available leave.

Can My Employer Lay Me Off Because of a Natural Disaster?

An employer may temporarily lay off employees or permanently close a business after a natural disaster. However, employees may have termination and severance rights depending on their employment contract, the nature of the closure and applicable law.

Fired or Disciplined Because of Bad Weather? Know Your Rights

If your employer has disciplined, fired or refused to accommodate you because of a weather-related absence, you may have legal options.

The Ontario employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP help non-unionized employees understand their workplace rights, challenge wrongful dismissals and recover severance pay.

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