Bottom Line Prevails Over Blizzard

Companies were closed and driving was all but banned during the Blizzard of ‘96, yet many businesses are telling workers they won’t get paid for the days they couldn’t make it in to work.

Employees are even getting docked in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where governors ordered many residents to stay off the roads or risk fines of up to $300.

“Here you are put in the situation where if you obey the law, you have to give up a day’s pay,” said Wayne Cahill, who represents workers at Philadelphia’s two newspapers.

Companies’ failure to pay for the snow day astounded New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman, whose office received 1,250 calls from angry employees.

“If ever there was a time to put human life above bottom line, it was last Sunday and Monday,” Whitman said. “I was stunned to learn that so many employers were taking such a hard line.”