To say the office is just too cold?

[freezingmytoesoff]

The thermostat on my office wall says 12 degrees, it feels much colder than that.
I am wearing my big outdoor coat, as are all of my colleagues, as well as some also carrying hot water bottles. My toes are freezing.

The heating isn't working, so AIBU to say this is too cold for us to be working in the office? Management seems to think it's fine...

Prepared to be told I'm wrong as we can't quite see our breath yet!

That's ridiculous. If you all have your coats on indoors, in a job where you are sitting most of the time, I'd say that's a good sign it's too cold!

Pretty sure it's illegal if the temperature is below 15c

12?! My god ,that’s freezing!
Definitely say something ,that’s not acceptable.

Aren't you able to work from home?

It’s not fine. Think there is a minimum as pp posted

Yep that's bloody freezing. Is it he heating or a ventilation / Covid thing? Y kids have all doors and windows open in school they are freezing!

I thought the minimum was 16?

Definitely say something. If you’re able to WFH you should be able to.

I worked in a cold office before COVID and I am not missing it this winter at all. Sitting there freezing all day used to make me feel ill. It would take hours for my hands to warm up again when I got home.

Yes the minimum is 16 degrees. See this from the HSE.
www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/law.htm#:~:text=Minimum%20workplace%20temperature,at%20least%2013%20degrees%20Celsius.

Screenshot from HSE. 16C is not an absolute legal minimum but they’d have trouble proving what you’re working on is reasonable.

That sounds just like what it’s like at my school :(

12 degrees is freezing.

12 degrees is freezing.

Er, no it isn't!

Yes I know that 16 is the legal recommendation, but I can't see that it's a requirement...

Apparently engineer is coming tomorrow morning so we all just have to freeze until then.

We can absolutely work from home, and have done over the official lock downs no problem, but they want us back in immediately after restrictions are lifted.

@Ifailed

12 degrees is freezing.

Er, no it isn't!

It is for indoors !

I just hope you don't run your (indoor) freezer at 12 degrees.

It is freezing' when you're sitting at a desk and not moving.

Awww the poor office staff feeling a bit cold 😂

@Bookriddle so you think it's okay for staff to be so cold they're having to wear coats and scarves inside, as well as carrying hot water bottles around?

I admit it's not a massive issue compared to some, but it's all relative and I think we can all expect our work place to be warm enough that coats aren't required?

@Ifailed

I just hope you don't run your (indoor) freezer at 12 degrees.

Right... ok . You’re one of “those”

I actually left a job years ago because they wouldn’t turn the heating up. It was utterly miserable sitting all day not being able to feel my fingers or toes

No legal minimum temperature, merely a recommendation (which combined with the government guidelines for ventilating office space means many buildings are closed until Easter) but it’s reasonable for you to be warm enough to be able to work and since you say you can wfh, that’s where you should be.

@Bookriddle bit of a twat aren't you?

@freezingmytoesoff i wasnt being serious hence the laughing face, of course it shouldnt be that cold in a office, atleast the computers wont over heat! I work outside in all kinds of weather, great in the summer, shit in the winter 😂

My children are sat in classrooms colder than this and have to layer their clothing accordingly due to covid and ventilation. I'm sure an adult can adjust.