To not want to work in the office with all the windows open?

[Ygritte84]

It's bloody freezing outside. My work can be done from home, but we have been called back in the office for three days a week min.

To be "safe", they are asking us to keep all windows open. My desk is next to the window. When I complained it is not comfortable and I have already got ill twice in November, the response has been that I need to layer up more.

Should I make a formal case to WFH in these circumstances?

You could try. However lots of people don't have any choice at the moment but to work in places with Windows open, and have little option than doing as already suggested of layering up.

I work in Canary Wharf, we don't open the windows

I thought there was a legal minimum temperature for work places?

Demand to be moved. Take the temperature at your desk. This is just not on.

I was surprised to read there's no minimum temperature, but HSE suggest a 'reasonable' lowest temp is 16 degrees. Do you have a thermometer?
16 degrees would be far too cold for people who have a disability that is made worse by the cold.
www.gov.uk/workplace-temperatures

Their contact form is here;
www.hse.gov.uk/contact/index.htm

Even with disability it's not as simple as using the lowest temperature. have worked in San school, boiler packed in during a very cold winter and the various unions we all had weren't able to do a thing other than suggested portable heaters. Could you get one for under your desk? Many receptionists do this because of the constant breeze.
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If the minimum temperature could be used schools would have been able to close last year when they were told to keep the Windows open, especially sn schools.
Same with other work places where wfm wasn't a possibility such as care home, health related services, factory workers, bus drivers, cabbies etc.

Your workplace is trying to stop the spread of Covid. Can’t you move desks?

I’d take in a heater and plug it in near your desk.

Is there another desk you could move to? Or another area you could move your desk to? Also suggesting this would prove you're not just trying to work from home by stealth.

Suggest a rota system, whereby everyone moves desks each week so everyone gets to experience sitting next to the window? You might get a lot more support from colleagues to wfh as they won't want to be cold either.

Sitting by an open window won't make you ill!

Put layers on - thermals etc - personally I like windows open - fresh air all throughout year - regardless of covid!

I have colleague that insists on all the windows being open. It is causing a bit of friction with others. I either don’t go in or find somewhere warmer to sit.

It has been suggested to HR that he is provided with a desk under a gazebo outside.

Ask to move and give your well ventilated seat to the most likely to die of covid?

That is ridiculous when you can work from home.

Same with schools (Ireland) the DC are wearing hats and coats in class with windows wide open.

I’m anaemic and I wouldn’t be able to concentrate or even function with all the windows open. YANBU

@tillyandmilly

Put layers on - thermals etc - personally I like windows open - fresh air all throughout year - regardless of covid!

The fact that you like the windows open doesn't really help the OP does it?

I feel your pain OP, I'm in the same position and I spent yesterday sitting at my desk with my coat on.

Ask to be moved to another desk

Someone might like to sit there

Men have a higher body temperature than women (or something that means they like/ can cope with colder temperatures) so maybe a man could sit there

I second a small fan heater under your desk.

Does your office have a dress code? If so, take the layering up comment literally and make sure you ‘can’t dress professionally because of the extreme cold’ Wear appropriate clothing for cold weather ( jogging bottoms, fluffy knitwear, woolly hat, ear muffs, scarf and gloves etc). If there is no dress code take blankets in to wrap around you and heat pads/hot water bottles. Plug in heaters only keep your feet warm which isn’t enough.

Hopefully they will agree to you working from home quickly rather than seeing you sitting wrapped up in a blanket!

Your workplace is trying to stop the spread of Covid. Can’t you move desks?

Why can't people work from home?
The OP said it's possible....

Good ventilation is one of the things that makes the most difference, so employer is right tonhave windows open. They don't need to be wide open though, having checked with CO2 monitors, I can say just a crack makes a massive difference.

Windows open or not, it astound me how many "always cold" people aren't properly dressed for winter, so yes more layers.

Why does the employer want you in? If you don't think their reasons are justified, yes, make your case to wfh.

It's awful. We go into the office one day a week and I have to plan what to wear and what extra layers to take. Last week I had 3 layers on my top half, a blanket over my legs and a scarf to put on when I couldn't warm up. FFS, just shut the damn windows!

I couldn't cope due to RSI, my hands would almighty ache from the cold.

No answers to this, but sympathy as me and my colleagues are in the same boat when required to work in the office (2 days a week). We've been told we can wear casual clothes but it's absurd - everyone was wandering around wrapped in blankets and wooly hats the other week! The breeze is also very distracting and a bit of a torment to be honest!