At a Glance

Fog Creek Software's employees will receive leave "if they are impacted by the increasingly frequent disruptions of extreme weather and environmental conditions due to climate change."They would receive longer leave if local authorities declare an extended emergency.

Climate-driven extreme weather events are expected to become more common in the future, and at least one company is being proactive by offering paid climate leave toits employees.

Last week, Manhattan-based Fog Creek Software announced it wouldofferto employees "if they are impacted by the increasingly frequent disruptions of extreme weather and environmental conditions due to climate change."

According to a statement by Chief Executive Officer Anil Dash, the company experienced a wake-up callafter hit the Northeast in 2012, forcing many of its employees to evacuate their homes.

"Our data center in downtown Manhattan was cut off from fuel, and keeping our customers running required days of heroics that culminated in a multi-company bucket brigade effortto carry generator fuel up 18 stories. Our team helped keep the lights on, and even took part in a short documentary film that was inspired by the episode."

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The heroic effort required employees to work remotely and even bring along family and pets while getting the job done.

Storms impacting the U.S. this fall,including hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, again highlighted the problems facing Fog Creek's employeesthat were again forced to evacuate their homes.

"Now, of course, we did the right thing. We told our coworkers to get safe, take the time they needand don’t worry about work while they’re putting family first," Dash said in his statement without specifying where the impacted employees lived at the time of the storms. "But as a CEO, I neverwant to be having to tell an employee, 'Trust me, it’ll be okay,' because taking care of employees means putting down our commitments to them and their families — in writing."

The policy calls for five days' worth of paid leave due to extreme weather per year. Any leave greater than five days would require a declared state of extended emergency by local officials in the employee’s region.

In most cases, companies are not required to pay employees when they don't make it into work because of inclement weather, and nonexempt employees are only paid , the Business Journals reported.

Per federal law, exempt employees mustbe paid if the company closes for the day, although they may be required to use paid personal leave. Should the company remain open, employees may be forced to use personal time off, which may or may not be paid, depending on company policy.

Dash isurging other companies to follow suit because "these situations of being displaced by weather or environmental conditions are only going to become more common."