TEMPERATURES are set to soar to 36C this week, so the last place many will want to be is inside an office.
A heatwave in the UK might have you wondering how hot is too hot to work.
Sign up for the Money newsletter
Thank you!
Meanwhile, you may be questioning whether you have the right to work from home if your office doesn’t have air conditioning.
Here, we explain your rights.
Working in the heat
Temperatures in all workplaces “must be reasonable”, the UK government advises.
However, there is no law for maximum temperature conditions.
TAXING TIMES
HMRC overtaxing pensioners for ten years in major error – are you affected?
RISKY BUSINESS
Future of high street chain hangs in the balance amid major restructure
That being said, guidance suggests a minimum of 16 degrees or 13 degrees is employees are doing physical jobs.
Two laws employers must follow to ensure health and safety at work include:
Keeping temperatures cool and comfortable.
Providing clean and fresh air.
If a workplace is not comfortable, employees should speak to their employers.
Likewise, there is no law for minimum working temperatures.
The Trades Union Congress has campaigned for an absolute maximum legal indoor working temperature of 30°C, but this is yet to be enforced.
Meanwhile, it argues there should be an absolute maximum temperature of 27°C for strenuous work.
What are my rights if I need to take public transport?
Each transport company sets its own policies – and there’s no law about temperatures during a heatwave.
This can mean that travellers face extremely high temperatures.
For example, in 2018, Londoners complained of 42C temperatures on the Tube – higher than the legal limit for transporting cattle.
Transport for London has said that all Tubes will be air-conditioned by 2030.
In any case, you’ll want to make sure you take a bottle of water with you on any journeys and wear cool, loose clothing.
