Work not taking red alert seriously

[Founderflower]

Why are some people not taking the red weather warning seriously? Where I am it’s 39 degrees on Wed/ Thur but ‘feels like’ 42 according to BBC.

At work they’re expecting everyone in - the office is air conditioned, so fine, but we’re central London so everyone needs to schlep in on public transport.

Red means a danger to life and not just for vulnerable people. Some people who are healthy will die because of the weather. There’s warnings of power outages and transport failures. So what happens if we get stuck on a broken down underground train?

I KNOW other countries see these temps regularly. But they are prepared for dealing with it. England is not and it fucks up. I don’t want a heart attack from sitting in 48 degree heat on a train. I’m really stressed out!

If it were a red warning around severe wind or rain or flooding they wouldn’t be telling everyone to come in! So why is heat seen differently?

Head of greater Paris region tells staff to WFH if they possibly can. That is what our leaders should be doing, if they weren't distracted by the latest nonsense.

Have ever been on London Underground trains 😂 Trains are piping hot even if it’s 21 C outside. Hot air gets pumped there and becomes trapped, so temps are going up. It’s like a train to hell

Yes I’m meant to be in the office on Thursday but due to the red warning we can be flexible. I’ve advised members of my team who travel in from outside London not to try to get in in case the trains aren’t running for the way home. I’m in two minds myself - is the Victoria Line commute worth it for the day in the air conditioned office? Not sure yet!

What? The underground, particularly some of the deeper lines, are very much hotter than above ground, and don't hsve aircon. The only relief comes from the movement of air when they move. Its going to be a very uncomfortable week for a lot of people.

Also people from hot countries have air con and shutters, they know how to protect themselves from heat. In the UK everyone repeats the mantra of „there are only 5 hot days in the year so we don’t need air con” then it turns out we’re on our second heatwave of the year and June hasn’t even ended yet

Thanks its made my digestive issues worse. I usually have dirrheoa because of it but this time ive had constipation terrible stomach pain and piles. I was in a friends SH flat over the weekend and on Saturday night his weather station was reading 19c outside and 27c inside.

We walked for 15 minutes yesterday afternoon from Moorgate Station to St Paul's and it was really humid even in 31 degree heat – and we're fit and healthy. That was also without the usual weekday City workers clogging the pavements. I would hate to think what it's going to be like walking in 40 degree heat and there's no way on earth you'd get me on the Tube where just stopping for a few minutes outside a station on a red signal will be intolerable at rush hour.

40 degrees above ground is about another five degrees at least below ground. OP can work from home but is not being allowed to. She is not BU.

But what pisses me off most about these man up/just take a water bottle comments is that you'll probably be the same parents who'll be the first to complain when your kids overheat in their classroom on Weds.

100% agree, a day in the garden, someone’s out of their mind there 😂 I’d rather die than leave my air conditioned house

Whilst I have every sympathy, how are we going to cope if everyone starts staying at home.

Luckily DH retired now, but if he couldn't get into work due to bad weather, he had to take the day as holiday. If your work own personal work isn't essential, could you negotiate this with your employer?

Some of the responses you’re getting are unhinged even by mumsnet standards. Wtf?🤨

Some people are more affected by heat, it’s genetic. I have always been more affected than my husband and now our son got my faulty genes. His teacher told me that he was the only child that wasn’t covered for naps at nursery because he would get all sweaty and hot. I faint in hot baths. Can’t think in hot weather, feel delirious. Not everyone is affected by heat the same way so if you’re fine then congratulations but not everyone is so lucky

You are being dramatic. You will be travelling in the early morning and early evening to an AC office. We had similar temps in 76 and 2022 and just got on with it. Yes it will be hot; yes it will be uncomfortable. At least you are doing an easy job vs those who have physical or caring roles.

What did we do before all the media hype?

Agree with this. I get really sick in heat with headaches, nausea, muscle ache irrespective of water, shade, electrolytes etc. Everyone says my house is freezing usually as windows are open all year round. We have our air con on a lot at night even when it’s not extreme heat as I like an arctic atmosphere. I do believe it’s your biology as opposed to just being a complainer or difficult.

I could quite easily lack empathy for those who struggle in winter complaining of how cold they are when I’m usually still in a t shirt with the heating barely ever on but I understand it’s your own comfort levels unlike some!

The UKHSA and Met Office saying there is a risk to life of the general healthy population isn’t ‘media hype’. And it only got to 35 in 1976 - nowhere near as hot as it will be this week. We might even surpass the record from 2022.

Same!! People complain that it’s cold in my office and I’m walking around happily in short sleeves all winter. Bedroom window open at night even in winter. Low temps don’t bother me at all. Maybe we should move to Syberia 😂

Im the same I havent needed to wear a winter coat for the last three winters A denim jacket has sufficed

I wonder if in 30 years when it’s routinely 45 degrees plus for chunks of the year and there are food shortages due to crop failure, we will still get people going ‘stop being so dramatic, it’s just a bit of heat, what are you whinging about?’

When we get red weather warnings, it's for conditions that will kill people. They are much rarer than amber warnings.

You said your office has air con?

The denial is strong.

Some tube lines have no aircon
Last year, the Bakerloo reached 48C

… and spent part of my life in a very hot humid country…
Unless the ‘part of your life’ was four days, you’ve made my point for me. Acclimatisation.
Jesus.

You have Aircon in the office you are being ridiculous. I live in Spain , walk to work slowly when it's hot (it's usually cooler early morning anyway ) take a hand fan. You are lucky to have air-conditioning, many work places here dont :)

What insanity are you spouting?
Even a 15 minute tube journey is over an hour walking on most lines
If you're coming in from e.g. Heathrow to Central London that's a 6 hour walk

Honestly, your employer won't take responsibility so do it yourself, tell them that unfortunately due to the extreme heat you can't get to the office, and will work from home. They won't sack you, HR wouldn't touch that with a barge pole.