MORE than 1,400 staff at Oxford University could lose annual leave after failing to turn up for work due to the recent heavy snow.

University and College Union officials said managers at the university were threatening to deduct a day’s leave for each day staff failed to make it into work on Thursday, February 5, and Friday, February 6.

The UCU claims that half of the 2,900 teaching and adminstrative staff could be affected after being unable to reach campuses.

But Bob Price, the human resources director at Oxford Brookes, accused the UCU of “over-reacting” and added that managers would use discretion when dealing with staff absence.

UCU representative Chris Murphy, 59, said: “I live just outside Wheatley and there were four or five inches of snow on the ground on the Friday morning, so I was unable to get the bus or drive in to work.

“As I work in computers, I was able to work from home, so I don’t expect to lose any annual leave, but there are lots of staff who can’t work from home.”

According to the union, the university was forced to close its Wheatley and Harcourt Hill campuses on the Friday because of the snow.

Mr Murphy added: “Staff not wanting to be penalised in the future will be forced to put their safety and that of others at risk, by attempting to travel in such dangerous conditions — which is completely unacceptable.”

Mr Murphy said the ruling on staff losing a day’s leave if they failed to turn up for work was in the staff handbook.

Mr Price said: “We completely reject the accusation the university would put the health and safety of its employees at risk.

“Indeed, on February 6, staff were advised not to travel to Harcourt Hill and for some time there was no U1 bus service running to Wheatley.

“At Brookes, it is at managers’ discretion to decide how to deal with staff absence due to exceptional weather conditions, and this will depend on individual circumstances. I have not heard of the dissatisfaction described and this is a complete over-reaction by the UCU.”