A UNIVERSITY has been criticised by a union after it warned staff they must make up any time missed because of the weather.

Durham University, which employs more than 3,000 academic and non-academic staff, said any lost time must be made up later or taken as holiday.

But the University and College Union (UCU), which represents lecturers and other staff working in academic-related fields, says the university is potentially encouraging staff to take risks with their safety.

A memo from the university’s human resources director, Jack Boyd, said staff were expected to make every attempt to get to work as normal in bad weather.

“If members of staff are unable to get to work because of adverse weather, they should contact their head of department/ line manager as soon as possible to inform them of their absence.

“Where this occurs, members of staff are expected to make the time up at a later date or to take annual leave or unpaid leave.”

He said that if staff wish to leave work early because of safety concerns or collecting children from school, they should similarly discuss it with their line manager.

“It is expected that such requests will be treated sympathetically on the understanding that members of staff are expected to make up the time at a later date.

“Depending on the nature of their role some members of staff may be able to work from home.

“Unless the weather is unusually severe – for example no public transport available – it is expected that the university will remain open for business as normal”.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: “The bottom line here is that Durham is threatening staff with a reduction in their holiday entitlement if they are not prepared to make a dangerous journey to work that the police and emergency services advise against.

“Staff not wanting to be penalised will be putting their safety, and that of others, at risk if they attempt to travel in such dangerous conditions.

“I fail to understand why, in 2010, staff cannot work from home, particularly when many universities are shut and students have not yet returned.”

A Durham University spokeswoman said: “The safety of our staff is of paramount importance and we would not ask anyone to put themselves at risk in order to get to work.

“However, while public transport is in operation, we do expect our staff to make every effort to get to work as long as it is safe to do so. This has been our policy for many years. We also offer staff the option to work from home where possible.”

She said that all requests to leave early to reach home safely or collect children were treated “sympathetically.”