Do I have a justified absence if I miss work due to Storm Charles? Yes, but there is a 'but'

Employment lawyer Gonçalo Caro explains that workers can have a justified absence during a state of alert, such as the one declared for Storm Charles, provided they can prove the impossibility of reaching their workplace due to the severe weather conditions.

Why it matters

If you cannot reach your workplace due to extreme weather, your absence can be legally justified, but you must be able to demonstrate that the weather conditions made it impossible to attend.

CNN Portugal· 3h agoRead original ↗

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Labor & Taxes

CGTP demands that work absences be considered justified and paid

The CGTP union is calling for all absences during the state of alert due to storm Charles, in effect on Wednesday 11 November, to be classified as justified and paid. The union argues that the government's current appeal for employer "understanding" regarding employees who cannot reach work or must care for children due to school closures is insufficient and leaves workers vulnerable to pay deductions.

Diário de Notícias· 5h agoRead original ↗

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Schools closed due to alert situation: can parents miss work without losing pay?

Schools and non-essential public services nationwide are closed on Wednesday 11 November 2026 due to weather conditions caused by the Charles depression. Under Article 249 of the Labour Code, parents who must stay home to care for minors due to the closure can justify their absence without loss of salary, provided they communicate it to their employer.

SIC Notícias· 10h agoRead original ↗

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Labor & Taxes

Justified absence without loss of pay: What happens if bad weather prevents you from going to work?

Under Article 249, number 2, letter D of the Labour Code, absences caused by circumstances beyond the employee's control—such as extreme weather preventing travel—are considered justified. Labour law experts note that while the law does not explicitly list 'storms' as a category, this interpretation holds when authorities issue alerts or advise against travel, and unlike some other justified absences, this type does not result in a loss of remuneration. Employees must inform their employer that they cannot attend work and should keep documentation, such as official weather alerts or Civil Protection warnings, as evidence for their employer.

CNN Portugal· 3h agoRead original ↗

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Depression Charles postpones football matches and forces indoor venues to close to the public · Observador · 28m ago
Porto encampment requests postponement of meeting with the President to Friday due to depression Charles · Observador · 45m ago
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Montenegro: "Do not underestimate the risk" of storm Charles · Observador · 59m ago

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