To refuse to go into a hot and sweaty office

[Floofydawg]

I've been WFH full time since Covid but we now have a directive of two days a week in the office. I can do my job fully remotely with no problems. I've been going into the office as directed but last week the air conditioning in the office wasn't working and we weren't allowed to open any windows to let some air in. The office was very very hot. I ended up going home because I felt ill and had a headache from the heat (I did work when I got home). Manager is expecting us in the office later this week even though the aircon is not fixed and we've been warned it could be warmer due to the heatwave. AIBU to refuse to go in?

I would also add that I am struggling with menopause and not being able to regulate my body temperature. Not saying I should get special treatment however I do struggle with it. I'd rather be home where I can open my windows and let some air in.

Good stuff but you do know working from home does not equal flakiness.

A happy workforce is a productive workforce 💪

I'd refuse to go in personally. What's the point of forcing people to go in when it'd clearly be counterproductive due to being uncomfortable. I also have worked mainly remotely. I've left the office before because it was too cold.

Knowing work regulations, I don't know why people are saying that you just need to go into work whatever the conditions and just suck it up??

Because those people don't know anything about that, and what's worse they don't know what they don't know.

Glad that common sense has prevailed and you can WFH

Menopause can be reasonable adjustment.

I WFH most of the time and am productive in my travel time. I am hard hard working. I was conscientious when I was self employed too. Some people that have never worked from home or are lazy will never understand WFH works for the employer and the employee. I've always had childcare, before and after school care and school holidays play schemes.

You’re choosing to highlight a few wfh cases that support your own rhetoric- there are plenty of people that take the piss in other ways when working in the office. I wfh 3 days a week and in the office for 2 but if it was too hot, I would definitely wfh and my manager would support it because she isn’t a dick.

And for what it’s worth, my productivity is measured and I still have time to hang out a load of washing - it’s called taking a screen break 👍

God. It’s threads like these that make me realise what my working life could be like day to day if I worked in an office. I absolutely don’t think you should have to go into work when it’s too hot but the idea of being able to go home in this situation is so alien.

This, and also there aren't many menopausal women doing manual labour on building sites. Even in the context of that silly argument, it was an odd example.

While I sympathise, this is Britain; there is no rules about requiring air con. Do you have air con at home?
Take a desk fan.
5 years ago we all went in to the office most of the time; moaned when it was occasionally too hot for comfort; cracked on.
You have a legitimate complaint about the air con. Beyond that, 2 days a week is a great hybrid mix; they could ask for 5 days if your contract started before COVID. Don't make yourself into That employee. Make it about the air con, not being in the office.

@ImplacableDiscernment Menopause can be reasonable adjustment

But you don't need to cite 'menopause as a reasonable adjustment' when the temperature alone with the lack of any fresh air provision is sufficient.

Why should @Floofydawg have give any other reasoning?

So, I am sure there are people who work full on WFH but my experience supports that a significant number of people don't.

And a significant number of people do. Why focus on those who don't?

There was a recent AIBU thread on MN re an employee who was WFH whose workload only added up to 6-7 hours for a full week. Their enquiry was whether he should be honest and tell their boss? I rest my case

That isn't a 'case'. That's a different scenario relating to workload. The fact that that person was WFH is inconsequential.

@Fannyfiggs well from the nature of this thread it doesn't sound like those who "wfh" aren't doing much and are prone to flakiness - back in say the 90s you'd be laughed at if you phoned up and said it's too hot today so I won't be coming into work! Just tell your employees to woman-up, stay hydrated and crack on - it's 2 days! How often do we have weather like this?! It'll be autumn in a few weeks and people will be moaning it's too cold to go into work!
I appreciate the menopause can be uncomfortable but come on women, we're really not helping the cause.

Tell them your situation and say you wil go in if the air con works or if they source you a fan

i think people are to quick to refuse to go into the office now

Actually, the UK has had a problem with menopausal women leaving the workplace due to symptoms for quite some time now.

This is the problem with all these we all managed 5 years ago claims that get trotted out. You didn't see all the people who couldn't manage it, who were pushed out of work due to the requirement of in person attendance. But you didn't notice they weren't there.

No, you don't appreciate how uncomfortable the menopause is or you would have some empathy. Some women have a really hard time day to day, never mind dealing with 30° heat and people like yourself who don't understand.

@RogerApGwilliam you're completely right.

And as for 'not helping the cause' - WTF does that even mean? (Not quoting you, just can't be arsed to look back at who that was)

We didn't have widespread remote working in the 90s and I'm sure if we did there would be people working from home.
Working from an office when there is no real need is an ideological (and personal wealth creating policy) coming from wealthy landlords who had the ear of the previous government.

@Yerroblemom1923

Forgot to ask we're really not helping the cause what cause??

Bet it’s a public sector office

Nope

110% will be the local council or an NHS thing.

@ODFOx 5 years ago we all went in to the office most of the time; moaned when it was occasionally too hot for comfort; cracked on.

That's your choice if you don't value yourself enough to let your employer know that working conditions aren't as they should be

OP@Floofydawg obviously thinks differently (and with reason)

IME employers are fully aware of their responsibilities, but will often ignore them if people don't bother to speak up.

They provide the bare minimum they can get away with and if no-one bothers to question it, then they continue to get away with less than optimal working conditions for their employees.............. so, who wins and who loses??

Hi, I disagree. If the poster on MN was in the workplace, he/she would have been assigned additional tasks/responsibilities. I am confident we all have experience of working with lazy people who do the absolute bare minimum. Difficult to deal with but easier when they are being monitored/mentored

Playing the menopause card to get nice little perks others aren't getting.

It's not helping women.

It’s not, the OP said.

Ironically, given your comment, the public sector are the ones forcing people out of the office as they’ve sold buildings to save money.

Any woman who is going through the menopause and experiencing symptoms can request their employer makes reasonable arrangements.