Parts of the UK are experiencing a serious heatwave, with an amber health alert issued for the second time in a fortnight. The Mirror explains what your legal rights are at work
Temperatures are soaring throughout parts of the UK, with highs of 34 degrees in the South East and London – and despite the sweltering heat, most people still sadly have to go to work.
Whilst there is little better than a heatwave that just so happens to take place bang-slap in the middle of your annual leave, meaning you are free to head to a beach, pub garden, or a park and really make the most of the hot weather, for most, it’s just another day in the office, albeit a bit more uncomfortable and sweaty one than usual.
Unfortunately, there is actually no legal maximum or minimum temperature for workspaces – which means that there isn’t a specific legal benchmark where employers have to let workers clock out because of high temperatures.
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There are a couple of reasons why there are no specific laws about work temperatures and a big part of the lack of legal definition here is simply because there are so many types of jobs and workplaces. But all workspaces have to be at a “reasonable temperature” so employees are not expected to carry on as normal if that would be damaging to their health.
If a job required someone to wear heavy protective gear that would make it seriously difficult for them to stay cool, then the point at which their manager would see it as no longer reasonable to work may well be different from people working in an office.
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However, that doesn’t mean that employees just have to grin and bear it. Employers should be taking steps to make sure it is a reasonable working environment – this could be closing blinds, bringing in fans to help their staff feel cooler, using air conditioning if the building has this installed, or perhaps even providing a portable one if it doesn’t.
Even things like dress codes should be relaxed during extremely high temperatures experts have explained – so for instance if you were always normally expected to wear a suit and tie, rules on more formal attire or uniforms should be temporarily relaxed to ensure staff do not overheat.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) wants to bring in a mandatory maximum working temperature that would see employees sent home – or allowed to log off if they are home workers – if it reached 30 degrees Celsius in their workspace, and that they should be allowed to take breaks more often to ensure they stay cooler.
They also want to bring in further protections for those who work outside, and drive as their jobs. Whilst there isn’t a recommended number given to maximum working temperatures, there is a recommended minimum of 16 degrees Celsius for indoor workers, and 13 degrees Celsius for those who do physical jobs.
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This isn’t a legal minimum limit, just a recommendation, so employers can still use their discretion. Read on below for a list of things you can ask your employer to do to help make your workspace more bearable during a heatwave – and remember, making accommodations and providing equipment so you can safely do your job is their responsibility, the government’s Health and Safety Executive makes clear.
Ideally, employers would be communicating with and asking their employees what they need in a heatwave, but if it seems to have slipped their mind you should not be afraid to ask. If you and your coworkers are struggling to manage in the heat, they are obliged to help you.