Employer can deduct the salary if the employee is absent for natural disaster like- cyclone, flood etc?

Is there any rule that the employer can deduct the salary if the employee is absent due to a natural disaster such as a cyclone or flood?

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Hi Suchismita.P,

Whereas whoever is absent from duty due to natural disasters should have the absence regularized by the proper procedure. The absence, in any case, due to any reason should have been properly conveyed to the controlling/reporting officials, and 'leave of absence' should be obtained by submitting the necessary documents. There can't be an automatic grant of leave in such events. You may not be able to reach the office due to flooding, roads being cutoff, or communication links being snapped, etc. However, this doesn't mean you can take it for granted. If the office is also closed on that day, it's only fair that the administration declares a holiday for such days, in which case there can't be any absences recorded. Sometimes, due to sudden strikes announced by activists, commuting to the office becomes difficult. But it's also possible that on such days, many employees could still reach the office despite the strike. Therefore, the administration might have different views on different employees. However, there is no hard and fast rule that the office must declare a paid holiday on such days. It depends on the discretion of the management in such situations. As you are aware, many district administrations used to declare holidays for schools and colleges due to heavy rains, sudden strikes, riots, local festivals, etc. On such authorized days, it is reasonable to declare holidays for offices as well. However, if some employees are absent while others are present, it might lead to the 'recovery of pay' or LWP (Leave Without Pay).

Thank you.

Hi Suchismita.P,

There is no relief provided to employees as per prevailing rules. Further, on humanitarian grounds, the employer may pay you for your absent days due to a natural disaster in your area.

Jitendra Jain

If the employee is absent from work, the immediate consequence as per the contract of employment is that he is not entitled to wages/salary on the days of such absence. Uninformed absence due to any hardship like personal injury, salvaging, lack of mobility, etc., caused by natural disasters will also fall under unauthorized absence. However, how the employer would treat it is only a question of fact depending on factors like the scale of the natural disaster and the extent of damage caused by it.