Dawn Meats has asked staff to count the two days they were unable to make it into work during Storm Emma as part of their annual leave, a decision which has caused controversy among some staff members.

“In respect of this downtime – enforced by weather events outside our control – team members have access to normal annual leave arrangements and scope to work additional hours,” a spokesperson for Dawn Meats stated.

It’s understood that employees will have the option to work additional hours if they opt to count the time off as unpaid leave.

In contrast, Kepak has confirmed that they paid staff as normal both snow days.

“Our view is that it is unacceptable that people are required to use their annual leave,” Michael Browne of SIPTU told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“Other employers have simply paid people for the losses incurred over the two days.”

ABP did not respond to the Irish Farmers Journal.