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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be worried about work with the temperature tomorrow

234 replies

Freakedoutandannoyed · 29/06/2025 19:10

I work in the NHS, based in a large open plan office. It’s pretty warm in there generally even when it’s cool outside. I’m really concerned about how hot it is going to be tomorrow and if I have any leg to stand on re working from home?

OP posts:
EggandStress · 29/06/2025 21:01

Rainbowqueeen · 29/06/2025 19:20

Hydrate well, take a fan. Take a facecloth , wet it and leave in the fridge and pop it round your neck in the hottest part of the day.

If you have flexibility in terms of when you take your lunch break, use that

Your manager knows the forecast. If you were able to wfh they would have already put the arrangements in place. For many people, their homes will be just as warm if not warmer than their workplaces.

Facecloth idea is a good one thanks. I’m going to do that.
I’ve got a days training tomorrow in a building which is basically a metal box 🥵

Ilovelowry · 29/06/2025 21:00

steff13 · 29/06/2025 20:44

Now that surprises me. Here in the US hospitals are always kept freezing. Is that not the case there?

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😂Hospitals are hotter than hell in this country.
I was in a private hospital in March, they had heated floors which did not have a room control. I ended up wetting towels in the bathroom to put on my legs I was so hot.

ShamrockShenanigans · 29/06/2025 20:59

Freakedoutandannoyed · 29/06/2025 20:11

Ah yeah the fan debate in the nhs. We aren’t allowed to bring any in as they need to be PAT tested which can take a long long time. Might risk if for a 🍪 and bring mine in, would rather not have people (myself or patients) keel over mid therapy!

Just keep it there and make sure it's added to the PAT list next time.

beforetherain20 · 29/06/2025 20:58

Serencwtch · 29/06/2025 20:55

DH & I are farmers so we have no choice but to work in all weathers 💪 & I have to say reading threads like this does give me a giggle.

Do you ever stop to think about restaurant chefs for example who work in much higher temperatures or manual workers out maintaining utilities or road maintenance etc.

Bring a fan, cold water, splash water on your face & carry on. No, you don't to go home for the day.

In a way I would rather be outside and able to wear shorts, soak my head in cold water, move to shade if you could etc, maybe a bit of a breeze
I have a horse so I’m happier outside as long as I can shove my head under a hosepipe!

than stuck in an office with no windows, no air and a strict dress code plus body and computer heat!

Original poster
Freakedoutandannoyed · 29/06/2025 20:58

All these posters saying oh what about the police, on a kiln etc yes I would expect some jobs to be more likely to have to manage more extreme temperatures.

Did I conceive that being a therapist would mean I had to work in humid and sticky conditions due to a lack of NHS infrastructure? Not really, I just wanted to help people and not feel sick from the heat.

OP posts:
TonTonMacoute · 29/06/2025 20:57

DS works in a restaurant in central London. A recently converted old building and the air con isn't working, the temperature is off the scale.

Funnily enough last week some salesmen from the air con company turned up with some potential customers because they wanted to show off demonstrate how effective their air con was. That didn't go well! 🤣🤣🤣

Greybeardy · 29/06/2025 20:57

steff13 · 29/06/2025 20:44

Now that surprises me. Here in the US hospitals are always kept freezing. Is that not the case there?

Show quote history

Nope! The NHS can barely afford the basics, let alone air con! 😂. It’ll be over 30deg on our labour ward tomorrow and whichever of my colleagues is covering there (not me this time fortunately!) will be scrubbing and gowning to do epidurals in that heat. Theatres are often cooler but not always by much. It can be a real problem for staff (my normal BP is about 95/60 which doesn’t leave much room for vasodilating and cerebrating sensibly/staying conscious) as well as the patients.

user1471502540 · 29/06/2025 20:56

My husband works on a kiln in a pottery !! You are being extremely unreasonable.

Serencwtch · 29/06/2025 20:55

DH & I are farmers so we have no choice but to work in all weathers 💪 & I have to say reading threads like this does give me a giggle.

Do you ever stop to think about restaurant chefs for example who work in much higher temperatures or manual workers out maintaining utilities or road maintenance etc.

Bring a fan, cold water, splash water on your face & carry on. No, you don't to go home for the day.

5128gap · 29/06/2025 20:54

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 29/06/2025 20:35

Try walking the streets in full police uniform, with a heavy stab vest on! I feel much more sympathy for people who actually have to work outside in heavy clothing than people moaning from an office..

I'll be on the train tomorrow, travelling to my London office. It won't be fun, it will be hot, sticky and sweaty but I'll go prepared. Cold lunch, ice packs, light clothing and a fan.

Tbf, if the people moaning about working in a hot office wanted to try walking the streets in a police uniform and a stab vest, they'd have chosen a career in law enforcement. As it is, they chose office jobs, which should serve as a precaution against it. In much the same way police officers don't have to work in blast furnaces, and steelworkers don't stoke the flames of hell.

LlynTegid · 29/06/2025 20:54

Freakedoutandannoyed · 29/06/2025 20:49

It’s not ridiculous to want to work in an environment that is safe for both staff and patients. 30 degrees inside is not.

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I agree. This level of temperature is not a once in ten years event.

Original poster
Freakedoutandannoyed · 29/06/2025 20:53

N1cot1ana · 29/06/2025 20:51

I think it’s the reverse. We tolerate it too much and actually think we’re soon going to get to a stage in education where AC installation is going to need to be included in funding by the government. Our classroom is so unbearable some of the kids were feeling ill recently. I don’t feel great as in dizzy, nauseous and struggling to focus. 30 kids and 3 adults stuffed in a room facing the sun and only 2 cracked windows open isn’t really ok. Nobody is dramatic and we all just get on with it but it’s not providing good working conditions for kids or adults and if temps keep rising thanks to global
warning eventually it’s not going to be feasible. I’d love to see many in the higher echelons cope with it.

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100% agree. It’s not conducive to learning or in my case, effective therapy, and is going to have to be dealt with as the temperate is likely to only keep increasing unfortunately.

OP posts:
N1cot1ana · 29/06/2025 20:53

Freakedoutandannoyed · 29/06/2025 20:50

That would be a lot of datix’s. I know the nhs has lots of things to sort but they need to sort out the issue of overheating buildings so badly. It’s always the non patient facing, non clinical buildings that have gorgeous aircon!

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This!

It’s those furthest away from the kids that have the coolest rooms in education. 🤔

Original poster
Freakedoutandannoyed · 29/06/2025 20:52

LittleBobbyDazzler · 29/06/2025 20:51

Buy a battery operated fan if they won't allow one to be plugged in. Are you not even allowed them plugged into a computer via usb?

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No but I’ve decided to take one in anyway tomorrow. The worst that will happen is it’s confiscated and then I’m no worse off!

OP posts:
N1cot1ana · 29/06/2025 20:51

dannyufcfan · 29/06/2025 19:47

We're always so dramatic about a little heat in this country.

I think it’s the reverse. We tolerate it too much and actually think we’re soon going to get to a stage in education where AC installation is going to need to be included in funding by the government. Our classroom is so unbearable some of the kids were feeling ill recently. I don’t feel great as in dizzy, nauseous and struggling to focus. 30 kids and 3 adults stuffed in a room facing the sun and only 2 cracked windows open isn’t really ok. Nobody is dramatic and we all just get on with it but it’s not providing good working conditions for kids or adults and if temps keep rising thanks to global
warning eventually it’s not going to be feasible. I’d love to see many in the higher echelons cope with it.

LittleBobbyDazzler · 29/06/2025 20:51

Freakedoutandannoyed · 29/06/2025 20:11

Ah yeah the fan debate in the nhs. We aren’t allowed to bring any in as they need to be PAT tested which can take a long long time. Might risk if for a 🍪 and bring mine in, would rather not have people (myself or patients) keel over mid therapy!

Buy a battery operated fan if they won't allow one to be plugged in. Are you not even allowed them plugged into a computer via usb?

Original poster
Freakedoutandannoyed · 29/06/2025 20:50

Toddlerteaplease · 29/06/2025 20:46

Datix if it goes above 25oc in your area. My ward is usually 28-30oC on a normal day. And we are now doing daily datix’s.

That would be a lot of datix’s. I know the nhs has lots of things to sort but they need to sort out the issue of overheating buildings so badly. It’s always the non patient facing, non clinical buildings that have gorgeous aircon!

OP posts:
Original poster
Freakedoutandannoyed · 29/06/2025 20:49

Sandandsea123 · 29/06/2025 20:46

Stop being ridiculous! I was 37 weeks pregnant and working in a restaurant (so running around carrying heavy trays) and the temp was 27+

It’s not ridiculous to want to work in an environment that is safe for both staff and patients. 30 degrees inside is not.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 29/06/2025 20:47

And yes. Being more sedentary in your office. Is so much better than on a busy ward. I’m incredibly relived I’m not working tomorrow.

Toddlerteaplease · 29/06/2025 20:46

Datix if it goes above 25oc in your area. My ward is usually 28-30oC on a normal day. And we are now doing daily datix’s.

Sandandsea123 · 29/06/2025 20:46

Stop being ridiculous! I was 37 weeks pregnant and working in a restaurant (so running around carrying heavy trays) and the temp was 27+

steff13 · 29/06/2025 20:44

Greybeardy · 29/06/2025 19:44

This is a common problem throughout hospitals. It’ll be much nicer in your warm office than it will be on most of the wards. (I wear compression stockings when it’s particularly toasty at work to help stop the fainting).

Now that surprises me. Here in the US hospitals are always kept freezing. Is that not the case there?

Branleuse · 29/06/2025 20:44

I work in a school in the SE and only half the school has aircon. It has been absolutely hideous in our class.

Im menopausal and i am on several medications which make me sensitive to the heat.
I have been feeling so ill from it that i actually dont know what the hell to do about it.

IberianBlackout · 29/06/2025 20:44

Can’t lie, I’m dreading going to work tomorrow, I seriously contemplated calling in sick and just chilling at home because it gets so unbearably stuffy in there.

I normally deal quite well with heat, but working in muggy, stuffy heat is a whole different type of hell.

Youcallisimportant · 29/06/2025 20:40

I’m going to be in a south facing, glass walled classroom with 25 students and 13 ovens running for three lessons. No fans or ac.
On a positive note my house should feel relatively cool when I get home! 🤣

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