Despite rising temperatures, employers are under no legal obligation to provide air conditioning, fans, or a maximum indoor temperature limit in workspaces, according to workspace provider Office Freedom.
While 16°C is widely considered the lower limit for a comfortable office temperature, there is no upper limit, meaning bosses aren’t breaking the law if staff are working in uncomfortably hot conditions.
However, there are steps employers can take to create a more comfortable work environment during a heatwave, according to Dale Allen, founder of The Safety-Verse, a platform providing accessible health and safety resources.
Allen told HR magazine: “If your office doesn’t have air conditioning, it can be difficult to keep it at a comfortable temperature during a heatwave. There are things employers can do though. Offices should have fans and a plentiful supply of cold water available to employees.”
Read more: Third of employees would clock off early during a heatwave
Allen also suggested relaxing workplace dress codes where it’s safe to do so, though this may be more difficult for outdoor roles requiring safety equipment. He added that helping outdoor and manual workers stay cool presents additional challenges.
He said: “For people working outside or doing heavy jobs, they need shade, more breaks and cooler times to work. Allowing staff to avoid working at the hottest times of the day – between 11am and 3pm – can help. Making sure there are good supplies of cold water, suncream and sun hats is also a good idea. Safety clothing and equipment are often very warm; investing in lighter weight protective clothing can help, but in very high temperatures, it may be necessary for work to be halted completely.
“HR departments should also offer training and education to staff, to help them recognise the signs of dehydration, sunstroke and heat exhaustion.”
Flexible working is another way employers can support employees during a heatwave.
Read more: Can you ask staff to keep working in a heatwave?
Rufus Hood, general manager UK at Coople, a flexible staffing platform, told HR magazine: “For employees that live far away from the office, it might be best to give them the option to work from home, so that they can avoid travelling on crowded public transport in extreme heat. Alternatively, these workers may want to start and finish earlier to avoid peak travel times.”
To improve employee wellbeing at work during a heatwave, Hood also advised managers create “designated cooling areas" where possible.
“Ideally this would be an empty, air conditioned room where workers can rest and rehydrate throughout their shifts,” he explained.
