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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

having time off work due to heat?

190 replies

IneedAyoniNickname · 18/07/2013 23:36

I've seen a couple of things on facebook, saying that they (the govt) are considering allowing people in non.essential jobs to not have to go to work if temperatures reach 30 degrees or more.

The people that have posted about it all work in essential jobs, mainly care work. They were all of the opinion that if they have to work, everyone does. Ans part of me agrees.

BUT, surely they chose to have that career, knowing they didn't get time of for Christmas/Easter/bank holidays/extreme weather.

So what do mners think? Should people be able to stay at home, particularly those who work in un air conditioned places, in non essential roles?

What about young school children? Ds2 was actually sick. with the heat, so has had to stay off school for the last day and a half of term. Mum also suffers badly with heat, and occasionally passes. This is despite drinking plenty and avoiding sun.

Btw, my career plan is nursing, if I get into uni next year. I'm going into it knowing I'll have to manage in all extremes of weather.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 22/07/2013 18:07

I'm sure there will be people like you to make sure we're all ok Ilovemyself.

ArgyMargy · 22/07/2013 18:18

Absolutely what ilovemyself said. Get a grip, you nesh young'uns ! Bloody ridiculous nonsense. Utterly pathetic makes me ashamed to be British. (Except construction workers etc. Nurses just bloody well have a drink and open some of those fecking windows)

LtEveDallas · 22/07/2013 18:46

I used to work as a flight attendant in Phoenix AZ during 110 F wearing a full uniform Skirt and blouse I take it? How long does it take to board a flight as a matter of interest?

People in the Middle East, South America, and Africa seem to manage to work just fine even when the weather is hot

Well yes. People that are live there and are acclimatised. People in the UK aren't, is this really that hard to understand?

MadeOfStarDust · 22/07/2013 18:53

some of us are from more northern climes (Orkney/Shetland etc) where the temperature going above 22 is "an event" - when we move to more southern climes, we feel the heat somewhat... and go purple and sweaty and feel sick..

Ilovemyself · 22/07/2013 19:42

Valiumredhead. Can't you think for yourself and use common sense. We shouldn't have to look out for each other as we should all have the common sense to dress sensibly, take extra water, use sun block and all the other things that sensible people can do without bleating and saying we can't cope.

LtEveDallas. We had a day nearly this hot 7 years ago. And the stupid bleatwave warnings seem to be happening more frequently so sheeple should be learning what to do.

I guess the basics are that people don't have common sense any more, can't be bothered to google what to do if its hot, and want to blame someone else if the get it wrong.

valiumredhead · 22/07/2013 19:48

I was being sarcastic not literal.

Born and lived in hot country for years. Plenty of common sense when it comes to small children having been a nanny and teacher for years, that's why I'm constantly amazed when people say daft things like 'it's the summer' when it's nothing like our normal summers.

Ilovemyself · 22/07/2013 19:54

But valium. Anyone with an ounce of common sense should know what to do in the sun. And we shouldn't need the government to tell us what to do. It doesn't matter if it is a normal summer or not - it is hardly the middle of Death Valley.

LtEveDallas · 22/07/2013 19:56

We should all have the common sense to dress sensibly, take extra water, use sun block and all the other things that sensible people can do without bleating and saying we can't cope

And if we can't dress sensibly? I mean, what are you wearing today?

LtEveDallas. We had a day nearly this hot 7 years ago. It hasn't dropped below 32 degrees in my place of work for 2 weeks now, so it's not just one day.

valiumredhead · 22/07/2013 20:00

Even if you cover up, use cream, wear a hat and drink gallons you can still be very affected by the heat.

crashdoll · 22/07/2013 20:03

I've also lived in far hotter climes than this. It's alright for you super people who can cope with 600 degree weathers but the elderly, young and ill are at risk. Do you go around bleating that people in Russia cope with far colder Winters when you see posters about checking on elderly people in cold weather?

Catmint · 22/07/2013 20:04

What utter tosh!

So the government are going to unilaterally make this decision on behalf of thousands of employers, and presumably compensate them for lost work days as well, are they?

This is most likely someone massively misinterpreting health and safety law.

(Some people will believe anything emoticon) .

Ilovemyself · 22/07/2013 20:06

Jeez. Some people. I was wearing a suit as I was at a funeral. But I then changed when I could, drank plenty of fluids, and stayed in the shade when I could. what were you wearing and why can't you cool your work area down.

In my current job we are not allowed to wear shorts, there are no fans, and it can get into the 30's. I don't bleat though, I get on with my job and I haven't been ill through it yet.

And in a previous job I had to work in a hot environment, as much of the job involved hot work. I simply made sure I had enough fluids, took breaks when able, and got a fan.

What on earth do people think foundry workers or chefs do when thy work with high temperatures.

Get a fan and drink plenty, I am sure you will be fine..........

Ilovemyself · 22/07/2013 20:11

FFS crash doll. Yes there are those that are at risk. But for children their parents should be capable. And for the ill and elderly one would hope they have carers or family to assist. Funnily enough this is what life is like when it isn't hot!

It is the people that can't seem to look after themselves in their office or shop or place of work that are the issue. They COULD deal with it of they wanted quite easily but instead want time off!

valiumredhead · 22/07/2013 20:14

Do you honestly think that if people just drink enough and use a fan they will be fine? Some people will, many won't.

Ilovemyself · 22/07/2013 20:23

Valiumredhead. I am talking about myself as I take responsibility for my actions - unlike many people here who would rather live in some nanny state and be told what to do every step of the way. The last comment should work for most as I guess they are not working in direct sunlight, of course with the addition of sensible salts etc. But I guess people don't have the sense to go to a pharmacy and ask a simple question.

I guess you don't think people should be responsible for their own health and actions.

crashdoll · 22/07/2013 20:26

You don't need to FFS me. Hmm In your little happy life, you might not realise but there are lots of uneducated people who do need advice. And as for the ill and elderly having carers, I am laughing all the way back to my office as social services. I wish there was the support out there. There isn't, hence why most local authorities have policies for very hot and very cold weather.

Ilovemyself · 22/07/2013 20:34

Come on crash doll. No need to say i have a happy little life. i said I am on about those that can't be bothered to help themselves. And in my town we look out for our neighbours thank you very much.

And what do you mean by uneducated? Are we really a nation that can't think for ourselves?

crashdoll · 22/07/2013 20:38

I mean people who are illiterate and/or innumerate or have language difficulties. The government issuing advice means I can do my job and help people who cannot help themselves - children, older adults and ill people. I can't see that the govt issuing the warning will help those who don't want to help themselves, only those who can't.

Ilovemyself · 22/07/2013 20:42

I never said those that can't help them selves crash doll. I guess we are arguing from the same said lol

LtEveDallas · 22/07/2013 20:57

I said earlier what I have to wear ilovemyself. Unfortunately wearing less or wearing something more appropriate is not an option.

We have a limited number of fans at work and we are not allowed to bring more in from home. We don't have AirCon. We have a choice of sunlight blazing in the windows and having them open, or having the blinds down and keeping windows closed.

It's unfair to assume that other working people can do what you can. Some of us have no choice and so the weather does affect us.

susiedaisy · 22/07/2013 21:02

No we don't need to stay at home but we do need employers to provide adequate facilities to cope with the heat, such as air con or fans, cool drinking water, proper breaks, summer uniform or summer dress code etc etc IMO

valiumredhead · 22/07/2013 21:04

Interesting how there would be uproar if offices/work places were freezing cold with no heating.

HoneyStepMummy · 22/07/2013 21:05

Skirt and blouse I take it? How long does it take to board a flight as a matter of interest?

No, my uniform was a dark blue wool-poly blend mix dress and black tights. The same lovely number I wore in wintertime in Canada and Summers in the desert.
It took 30 minutes to board a 737 or an Airbus 320. 40 minutes to board a 757. Mind you, I sometimes worked the Las Vegas - Phoenix shuttle all day and would sometimes board 5 flights a day on a toasty plane that had been sitting on the runway getting nice and toasty.
This was of course after walking thorough the employee parking lot in my fetching uniform with my crew bags and waiting in the sun for the employee shuttle. Good times! We used to either wear cotton vests under our uniforms or apply deodorant to our backs so not to be dripping wet. However the baggage handlers had it so much worse- they would have to unload and load bags in the midday sun in the 110F heat. I used to push cold drinks and ice on them.
I don't find anything on this thread hard to understand. I have both lived in, worked in and visited countries that have been either very hot or very cold. I grumbled a bit and dealt with it- I certainly don't need to take the day off because it's 89 F.

RedToothBrush · 22/07/2013 21:07

You don't have to stop working. Just make sure you look after yourself when you are working and employers need to respect this and any obligation in law needs to state this, not stop people working. Life goes on regardless of the weather!

We do not have to stop working. The suggestion is one from workshy wimpy muppets who don't have a clue about life.

I'm about as prone to sunburning and sunstroke as you can get. The trick is to prepare; dress appropriately and take on lots of fluids. That does not mean wearing as few clothes as possible - it can actually mean covering up!

I also amazingly have survived working in Sydney for a summer, with my good old British genes and lack of acclimatisation. My family history has a lovely combination of deepest darkest peak district, the compulsory Irish connection and the deepest darkest highlands of Scotland with proper kilt wearing and Mel Gibson impressions galore.

I survived, amazingly, without air conditioning in my flat as we couldn't afford it, and it was broken at work.

And that was at least another 10C on top of what we have going on here.

As much as I don't like the weather at the moment, I echo everyone saying ITS NOT REALLY THAT HOT. Do you remember 7 years ago when it was hitting 38C?

Ilovemyself · 22/07/2013 21:12

LtEveDallas. Woollen socks and boots? What do you do? PM me if you want it private as I am really intrigued!

My point is that some people work in this day in day out, like foundry workers. They manage so most of us should be able to for a few weeks a year.