How Should HR Handle Employee Leave Requests During Weather Disruptions?

Hello Seniors, I am working as an HR Executive with an IT startup company. Please provide your opinion on the issue below:

Issue Due to Heavy Rainfall

On 19th June '15, due to heavy rainfall, trains were not running from the Kalyan side, and those who traveled by bus were also stuck in traffic, so they couldn't reach the office.

Employee Concerns Regarding Leave

Now, the issue is employees are asking not to consider this leave as "Absent." They mean it should not get deducted from their leave balance because they had left for work but had no other mode of travel, so they did not come to the office, thus it's not their fault. They are saying if the company cannot consider this leave as "holiday" or "leave by company," then it should have arranged transport facilities for the employees.

On the news channel, it was also mentioned that if it's so urgent, then only go out.

Current Situation and Management Decision

We are 12 employees, and out of that, only one employee reported to the office as he stays in Thane, and our office is located in Vikhroli. But none of the employees reported to the office, so management had asked the admin to close the office at 1 pm and leave for the day.

Please give me your suggestions about what can be done in this situation.

Thanks & Regards,
Mansi

Dear Friend,

It is beyond the situation. Let the management treat the days as usual and mark these days as special leave for the organization, not for the individuals. This means the organization itself considers these days as leave.

Another way around could be to make these days as leave and compensate on another two days. Everything is in the hands of the head for the betterment of the organization and the employees.

Best of luck.

Dear Mansi,

You are part of a 12-member IT company. Therefore, you should resolve this minor issue among yourselves. An IT company's work is typically project-based. As long as deliverables are met, what is the problem with declaring one of the days as a holiday?

Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar

As Shri Dinesh mentioned, there is no issue at all. It is how you look at a minor incident. Treat the day as a company holiday. If such incidents are frequent, then only a question arises.