Human resources specialist Helen Straw, of Honley-based The Personnel Partnership, urged employers to be take a “commonsense” approach to staffing issues thrown up by the heavy snows.

Steven Leigh, head of policy for the Lockwood-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said the absence of cars in the car park when he arrived at work made Friday feel like a Sunday.

He said chamber was fielding far fewer calls, suggesting that many businesses were closed.

Jonathan Hardy, manager of Huddersfield’s Kingsgate Centre said there had been “a considerable impact” on shopper numbers, but added: “It is not disastrous.”

Human resources specialist Helen Straw, of Honley-based The Personnel Partnership, urged employers to be take a “commonsense” approach to staffing issues thrown up by the heavy snows.

“If staff don’t come into work there is good reason for it in weather like this,” she said. “It is a question of how employers manage that. Are staff going to take it as holiday, unpaid time off or make up the time later?”

“Employers should take a balanced, reasonable and commonsense approach – but take care that employees do not take advantage of the situation.”