Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to go into a hot and sweaty office

496 replies

Floofydawg · 30/07/2024 16:51

I've been WFH full time since Covid but we now have a directive of two days a week in the office. I can do my job fully remotely with no problems. I've been going into the office as directed but last week the air conditioning in the office wasn't working and we weren't allowed to open any windows to let some air in. The office was very very hot. I ended up going home because I felt ill and had a headache from the heat (I did work when I got home). Manager is expecting us in the office later this week even though the aircon is not fixed and we've been warned it could be warmer due to the heatwave. AIBU to refuse to go in?

I would also add that I am struggling with menopause and not being able to regulate my body temperature. Not saying I should get special treatment however I do struggle with it. I'd rather be home where I can open my windows and let some air in.

OP posts:
BurntBroccoli · 01/08/2024 19:44

Poppysmom22 · 01/08/2024 19:31

It’s the sheer number of them available and reviewed that made my head spin a bit so many jigglers have been bought

Looking through some reviews it seems a lot have been bought due to some companies (especially financial) requiring you to lock your screen if you are going to be in active for more than 20 seconds (yes 20 seconds) or it forces you to relog back in.

Poppysmom22 · 01/08/2024 19:31

It’s the sheer number of them available and reviewed that made my head spin a bit so many jigglers have been bought

BurntBroccoli · 01/08/2024 19:28

Poppysmom22 · 01/08/2024 18:03

I must be the only person wfh who doesn’t have a mouse jiggler how can there be a need for so many of them

I know, I don't know why people are so bothered about them!

They could even have been purchased because the work at home employee has been so productive at home that they have completed all their tasks in fewer hours (no office chats or distractions). But due to micromanaging policies, they are forced to sit at their computer anyway and perhaps look at their phone for a bit or whatever. They are still doing their job!

Original poster
Floofydawg · 01/08/2024 19:20

Oh FFS I can't believe people are referring to breaches of employment contract. Don't be ridiculous. We have people not go in for all-sorts of reasons. My boss himself doesn't always make it in. We're grown ups, and it's known that just because we're not in the office, it doesn't mean we're not working.

OP posts:
brunettemic · 01/08/2024 19:07

Floofydawg · 01/08/2024 16:54

Semantics

Show quote history

I’m glad you’ve got it sorted but this isn’t semantics and you’d be wise to understand that sort of thing going forward. Initially your proposal was to breach your employment contract with no negotiation. As the post you’re quoting says you’ve now done the right thing for all parties concerned.

Hateam · 01/08/2024 19:03

BurntBroccoli · 01/08/2024 17:56

@Hateam
"Type 'Undetectable Mouse Jiggler' into Amazon and look how many they sell each month. It's 1000s."

How does this specifically affect you as a teacher?

What is the point of that question?
Are we only allowed to comment on issues that affect us?

Toptops · 01/08/2024 18:51

Yabu

MollyButton · 01/08/2024 18:38

Poppysmom22 · 01/08/2024 18:03

I must be the only person wfh who doesn’t have a mouse jiggler how can there be a need for so many of them

And my employer doesn't use this kind of thing. As I'm judged on what I achieve not something like keys hit or mouse moved. Sometimes it's quiet, so I catch up with training. Other times it's manic, and I have to force myself to remember to go to the loo or have a cup of tea.

Poppysmom22 · 01/08/2024 18:03

I must be the only person wfh who doesn’t have a mouse jiggler how can there be a need for so many of them

BurntBroccoli · 01/08/2024 17:56

@Hateam
"Type 'Undetectable Mouse Jiggler' into Amazon and look how many they sell each month. It's 1000s."

How does this specifically affect you as a teacher?

pyjamatimes · 01/08/2024 17:42

How can this thread still be going? 😅

Hateam · 01/08/2024 17:38

YOYOK · 01/08/2024 17:03

How many is “many” and how do you know?

Show quote history

Type 'Undetectable Mouse Jiggler' into Amazon and look how many they sell each month. It's 1000s.

Hateam · 01/08/2024 17:34

Floofydawg · 01/08/2024 16:54

Semantics

Show quote history

Good luck.
I hope you get some relief from your symptoms.

YOYOK · 01/08/2024 17:03

Hateam · 01/08/2024 11:08

My point , and I really think you do know this, this that many people who are WFH are regularly not working.

How many is “many” and how do you know?

AGodawfulsmallaffair · 01/08/2024 16:58

TeaAndBrie · 30/07/2024 17:22

My point was that with the current temperatures very few people are comfortable in offices but function perfectly well without air con. I would guess that less offices have air con than those that do.

the world can’t stop every time someone gets a bit hot.

Show quote history

There’s gets a bit hot, and there’s so hot you are visibly sweating and feeling ill. Everyone reacts differently and it is debilitating for some people.
I’ve never worked anywhere where you can’t open a window or have fans provided.

Original poster
Floofydawg · 01/08/2024 16:54

Hateam · 01/08/2024 15:19

My issue with the OP was her intention to refuse to go into the office.

In the end she did the right thing and asked for a reasonable adjustment, which was granted.

Her AIBU was not to ask to WFH but to refuse to work in the office.

She was wrong to think about refusing to go in.

Semantics

OP posts:
Jeannie88 · 01/08/2024 16:52

I find hot sweaty classrooms full of teenagers hard, Windows open usually only a crack for safety issue so often like a sauna. I take a little powerful fan and walk around with it, open the doors and drink lots of water, still not pleasant. Xx

Jaxhog · 01/08/2024 15:41

HateMyNewJobSoMuch · 30/07/2024 16:58

I personally would speak to HR to nudge them down the route of WFH as a “reasonable adjustment” given the aircon situation and your symptoms of menopause.

This.
Companies/organisations have a legal duty to provide a reasonable working environment, including limits to heat and fresh air.

Hateam · 01/08/2024 15:19

My issue with the OP was her intention to refuse to go into the office.

In the end she did the right thing and asked for a reasonable adjustment, which was granted.

Her AIBU was not to ask to WFH but to refuse to work in the office.

She was wrong to think about refusing to go in.

TheMamaLife · 01/08/2024 14:55

Hateam · 01/08/2024 11:08

My point , and I really think you do know this, this that many people who are WFH are regularly not working.

That’s irrelevant to what this thread is about. The OP is not feeling well, particularly in this weather, and the facilities at the office are worse than what she has at home. She’s got an issue with the lack of air con, she not trying to slack off.

The argument about skivers is that’s fine to have, but I don’t think that’s what this thread is about.

CountingWitches · 01/08/2024 14:25

So many breathtakingly unhelpful comments on here.

Not being able to tolerate heat isn’t ’princessy’ or entitled or lazy. It is also academic that many people work in hot environments/without aircon and some people work on building sites so have to tolerate high temps while they work. Whether they’re happy with this or not, some people’s tolerance of adverse working conditions don’t make that a ‘gold standard’ by which to judge everyone else.

Certain health conditions and medications (and, indeed, certain phenotypes such as redheads) mean you can have poor temperature regulation and can feel increasingly unwell when it’s hot. This is the case for me and the sum total is deeply unpleasant. I work extremely hard (no entitlement in sight) but the health impacts of heat are like illness. Fortunately I work for good people with a great HR team who don’t see the world in the polarised way some people on here seem to.

Quick suggestion for those people: have you ever thought about doing some charity work? Might help to reconnect you with the concept of empathy,

MollyButton · 01/08/2024 14:08

In my office: windows open. Huge fans are provided for the meeting rooms where the aircon isn't working. There are a variety of fans around the building (big ones and little personal usb ones). The aircon is cranked up downstairs (real breeze in the corridor), we can all go to work in the canteen which has aircon if we want.
And lots of people have exemptions to work at home due to health conditions, which menopause symptoms are one.

MollyButton · 01/08/2024 13:30

SaintHonoria · 30/07/2024 17:06

Take a fan in.

Your employer should be providing fans.

Hateam · 01/08/2024 12:59

BurntBroccoli · 01/08/2024 12:53

Where do you work?

Show quote history

I'm a teacher.

Hateam · 01/08/2024 12:59

BurntBroccoli · 01/08/2024 12:49

Therefore a management issue not a wfh issue.
In my experience there are lazy people who work from offices who seem to get away with doing very little, chatting incessantly and disturbing colleagues who want to get on with their work.

It cannot be assumed that just because they are at a desk, in front of a computer and in an office, they are productive. They are just present.

Show quote history

I agree.

Those people will push it further if they WFH.

Swipe left for the next trending thread