Snow Days

When I was a boy and snow was in the forecast, my chin would be resting on the window sill beside my bed all night. I was watching the streetlight to gauge the snowfall and praying for a school closing.

What was better than a snow day? An extra day out of school and a plethora of snowball fights, sledding and other delights.

I’d watch the flakes and send mental messages to the heavens to step it up. Also, to the school superintendent to pull the plug. C’mon! What do you have to lose? Call off school, you mean bastard.

That was then and this is now. Snow is forecast for the evening. Our front desk supervisor enters my office. I can hear other feet shuffling around outside the door.

She tells me a number of clients have already cancelled for tomorrow. She stands there, the implicit question clearly evident. I can almost smell the anticipation outside the door. I tell her that I’ll wait to see the conditions early in the morning and let her know. Standard procedure. I hear a collective sigh in the hallway.

I’m accountable for financial results and the welfare of the organization. Services are a perishable commodity. If you don’t render and bill them today, you can’t stick them in the warehouse and sell them tomorrow. They’re gone forever, along with the revenue. Expenses don’t take a day off.

I’m also responsible to clients who need the services. Some will get by without any trouble and may even not show up for an appointment if we were open. . Some won’t do so well.

But, I also think about my employees. I don’t want anyone to get hurt. I don’t take responsibility. They’re driving their cars, I’m not. And, if it looks too much for them to handle, they can take a sick day. They know their abilities and it’s their decisions. But, I still factor it into my decision.

Easy to make the call when you’re not responsible. Much harder when you are.