STORM2K

when there is a freakin' 1/2" of snow on the ground???????? (SC) --

I'm sorry, but a State worker has the same risks to make it to work as us common slugs. This frosts me here in SC and its always the same story.

My guess is because they seem to think that a 1/2 inch of snow in the winter is like a Cat 3 cane in summer.. a major threat..

I'm not sure..

It is easier to shut down everything down to keep as many people off roads. The state, probably on the advice of the SC DOT shut down government offices and schools. They cannot order private employers to close. It is at the discretion of the employers and their severe weather policies.

Besides do you want to start a discussion on how people can't really drive around here, when there is 1/2 inches of snow???

lurker_from_nc wrote:Besides do you want to start a discussion on how people can't really drive around here, when there is 1/2 inches of snow???

not really I know they can't drive, and in their defense, they haven't had enough practice.

My gripe is with State offices shutting down at the very hint of snow and we pay for their day off! I find the policy reeking of self importance and abuse of power.

so you would rather they be out on the road contributing to the accidents that are sure to occur? People that are not used to driving in snow and ice should not be out on the roads. They are an accident waiting to happen.

It is not rocket science to get to work with 1/2" of snow on the ground. Very simple formula: Drive slow! Half of my company didn't show up today, some will take vacation time, some will put "other" on their time sheet, but not one of them, awoke this morning to hear on the television that they didn't have to come to work today.

Lets get back to the point here ---> State agencys pay their employees to stay home and play in the snow, and there is nothing I can do about it. Dare I even say the "p" word, but frankly, that doesn't even factor in. Doesn't matter whose running things, they are going to keep that perk, and you and I pay for it.

I figure I pay for some really lazy people who abuse our welfare programs and I pay for some really sneaky people who abuse our disability programs - now I really get PO'd at that. A few "snow days" hey, that's nothin.

j, you just want to stay home and eat bon bons and make snow angels!!!

j wrote:It is not rocket science to get to work with 1/2" of snow on the ground. Very simple formula: Drive slow! Half of my company didn't show up today, some will take vacation time, some will put "other" on their time sheet, but not one of them, awoke this morning to hear on the television that they didn't have to come to work today.

Lets get back to the point here ---> State agencys pay their employees to stay home and play in the snow, and there is nothing I can do about it. Dare I even say the "p" word, but frankly, that doesn't even factor in. Doesn't matter whose running things, they are going to keep that perk, and you and I pay for it.

I am sure this is costing state employees who probably have to use personal/vacation time for the time they are out.

lurker_from_nc wrote:I am sure this is costing state employees who probably have to use personal/vacation time for the time they are out.

You think? If that's the case, then I just blew a whole lot of smoke about nothing.

Salaried employees get the same salary they would have gotten. Hourly employees are out of luck.

The reason they shut down is to keep people off the roads. SC Highway Patrol consistently logs a dramatic increase in accidents when even a trace of snow falls.

I'm salaried. I guess I should have stayed home! Thing is, I can't do it in good concience when there is 1/2" of snow on the ground.

I get regit's point.

It's not just to keep state employees off the roads. It keeps those regular Joes who had to go to those state offices off the roads also.

But, I get J's point too. Being from KY, I don't get how people can't drive on just 1/2" of snow or frozen precip on the ground. Then again, I worked in the ER for a large amount of my time in KY and we HAD to go to work.

A lot of people cannot adjust their driving to weather conditions. I have seen northerners and southerners who think just they drive pickup trucks and/or SUVs, they can drive normally during snow and icy conditions. And then they wonder why they ended up in the ditch.

It's probably was SC DOT trying to get people off the road for safety reasons and to get the roads cleared.

I am sure essential state employees had no choice in the matter and had to show up for work. No need to risk the lives of nonessential employees. I don't believe the State of SC will fall apart because the tax revenue and DMV employees took a snow day.

Government buildings like schools close because a danger is posed to have countless vehicles(with children) driving around in slick weather(especially down south) because it puts more traffic on the road= congestion and more accidents occur, kids can be hit on their way to school while crossing a busy road... and so forth. The school is the responsibility of your children from 8-3. They just can't run the casualty risk.

the reason they do it here (coastal NC) is because of not only the driving...but due to us not receiving snow all the time, we dont have plows or even sand/salt to put down (ironic...considering the beach is 30 minutes away...)
around here, winter weather accidents occur as followed:
1. Throw in people, who most hardly ever see any snow...
2. Toss in the chance of snow (no matter how slim)
3. Mix and enjoy (or in this case RUNNNNNNN! )

EDIT: on a side note, in Central Va we would go to school with 6" on the ground...but there were VDOT trucks plowing the roads and they always had sand/salt on hand and a way to get it down...so as long as the roads were not icy and the plows could handle the snow...we went to school

These people down here can't drive under perfect wx conditions. Even a shower causes mayhem on the roads, all because people take criminally stupid chances. Sometimes I think the Germans have the right idea about driver's licenses....

Snow/ice + idiot drivers = calamity.

well....everybody is skirting here. If it's bad enough for the State to close down its offices, why not mandate that businesses shut down as well??????? (not that I think they should). Whats the deal? The only bad drivers are State workers?


I'm not talking about schools here. That's a different issue all together.

When OK had the ice storm a couple of weeks back... Altus AFB was mission essential only with complete shut down after 12noon... I'm from Wis... NOTHING shuts down!

The state has no authority to mandate that other employers shut down.

HEY NOW...I'm a GOV'T worker and I don't SHUT down until there's 35" of snow on the ground and the ONLY reason I do it THEN is that the clearance on my van is only 6" and I can't push through it

Seriously, we don't shut down at ALL, ya know, "To serve and protect" and I can see why they shut down, it's a safety concern there Brother