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.

Employees doing their work comfortably, at home, instead of uncomfortably at work, is not "the world stopping".

It is treating people like adults.

If my employer treated me like this, I'd quit. No one should put up with being treated like this. There's no justifiable reason to make employees suffer.

In the 80s and 90s many women in nursing and other front line services took retirement at 55 which is probably the peak age for menopause.

This recent petition in 2023 shows that nurses are asking to retire at 55 due to physical demands on their bodies (which probably includes menopausal symptoms such as osteoporosis and overheating).

OP, you absolutely should get "special treatment" because you're in menopause. Please don't be reticent to ask for the accommodations you need to do your job properly.

In the 80s and 90s many women in nursing and other front line services took retirement at 55 which is probably the peak age for menopause.

Yep!

But people will refuse to join any dots. It's ooh, every other woman has had to put up with it until now. When that's quite clearly not the case.

Yes this!

I work on a busy NHS ward with no air conditioning. We just have various fans dotted around and just get on with it!

I suffered this way ( and other symptoms) and still had to teach teenagers in classrooms with no air-conditioning and windows that were nailed shut.

It wasn't pleasant.
Sadly, prior health condition meant no HRT.
I brought in fans, had spare clothes in the stockroom, wipes, deodorant and a plant spray with water.

I taught a shortage subject so it would have been hard to get a qualified Scientist to replace me if I didn't go in because it was too hot.

Saying that I was a useful teaching resource when teaching life cycles and reproduction😀

Not saying it was ideal or fun but I had a responsibility to my students and their future.

Later I did have adjustments made as I developed severe RA. Symptoms were ignored as GP thought it was menopause.

We are all different and some people can handle high temperatures more effectively than others.

You are probably used to those temperatures too - OP has suddenly been forced to work in them and her body is saying no!

It's a big thing they talk about nowadays!!

We have a few training sessions a year on menopause in the workplace and official policies on it too. That's here and at my previous two workplaces (all PLC's)

Good for you 👍

We now have choices and if women can sodding go to work but from home then that's what we'll do.

It's certainly not pathetic but worrying about what favours it does or does not do women is pathetic.

You stay in your martyr lane and we'll stay in our more modern lane at home 😘

Enjoy your hot, sweaty uncomfortable day in the office/shop/wherever.

Oh, how erudite. Well done
Nonsense, but well done

Well said @Fannyfiggs

We shouldn't be putting up and shutting up!

We do need to introduce a max temperature for working conditions too for all.

Nonsense is the idea that women just had to get on with it before modern accommodations like wider remote working and better air con, rather than acknowledging that menopause did and does continue to drive some women out of work altogether.

The idea that because some women previously had to suffer that should continue now would be ridiculous even if it didn't completely fail to notice all the women who were pushed out.

Two days per week = more people on the roads and more pollution.

Anyone that's supports a return to office doesn't support climate change.

Anyone who wants air conditioning doesn't care about climate change.

Fuck me how did this turn into a climate change debate? To be honest I wouldn't give a shit about the lack of aircon if they let me sit near an open window, as I am right now, with a lovely breeze blowing through.

If you do end up going in op what about getting a neck fan?

Sounds ridiculous but you wear it round your neck and they are brilliant at keeping you cool.

Oh aye cos I wanna look like a twat in the office - I might as well get a big sign for my back saying 'warning, menopausal woman' in big letters!

Sorry, I know you're trying to help. I'm not going in this week though - it's been agreed.

Christ you sound like hard work.

Hard work? I prefer to call it takes no shit.

What kind of nonsense comparison is this?

Construction workers take the job knowing they're going to be working outside in all weathers and not have the option of WFH.

If they want to WFH, they can retrain or get a job in an office that allows WFH.

It's not unreasonable for someone who has the option of WFH to expect some leeway to be given on WFO policies when there's a heatwave and their air-con is not working, and they're failing to provide a suitable alternative.

You can always rely on one to stroll up with the "what about x, y and z workers who can't work from home?" nonsense, though. It didn't take long.

Go to the office or be prepared to lose your job.

Could we settle on rude?

How contradictory and condescending. Not so well done for you dear.

And it's not nonsense but I can see you are narrow minded and unwilling to believe that times have moved on.

Take care and keep that upper lip as stiff as the stick up your ass 😉

Nah, you're just a wind up merchant. You can't be that ignorant.