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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to go into a hot and sweaty office

496 replies

Floofydawg · 30/07/2024 16:51

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.

OP posts:
Hateam · 31/07/2024 12:28

harmfulsweeties · 31/07/2024 12:17

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.

Show quote history

Read the thread title.

She wasn't expecting some leeway. She was point-blant refusing to go in to work. That's not the same.

Original poster
Floofydawg · 31/07/2024 12:32

I was 'point blank refusing' to go into the OFFICE @Hateam - there is a difference. I am currently working (well not right now, it's my lunch break). From my HOME OFFICE!

OP posts:
RogerApGwilliam · 31/07/2024 12:35

harmfulsweeties · 31/07/2024 12:17

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.

Show quote history

It never does. Quite how common that poster thinks it is for menopausal women to be building site labourers, one dreads to imagine.

BurntBroccoli · 31/07/2024 12:55

Floofydawg · 31/07/2024 12:06

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

Good for you OP. You gotta stick up for yourself as no one else will.

Hateam · 31/07/2024 14:16

Floofydawg · 31/07/2024 12:32

I was 'point blank refusing' to go into the OFFICE @Hateam - there is a difference. I am currently working (well not right now, it's my lunch break). From my HOME OFFICE!

Did you mean not point blank...?

Wishimaywishimight · 31/07/2024 14:31

These threads always throw up lots of responses from people who are clearly sick with jealousy that they can't wfh 🙄

JenniferBooth · 31/07/2024 14:34

I live in a one bedroom social housing flat that gets up to temperatures it would be illegal to transport animals in

Original poster
Floofydawg · 31/07/2024 14:57

Hateam · 31/07/2024 14:16

Did you mean not point blank...?

Show quote history

Yes. Typo.

OP posts:
Hateam · 31/07/2024 15:09

2 things

  1. How long is your lunch break? So far it's 2.5 hours. Clearly working hard!
  1. Your own title says you want to refuse to go to the office. If you had said AIBU to ask for reasonable justments, I wouldn't have posted.

Anyway best you get back to postingon mumsnet in the middle of the working day working from home.

harmfulsweeties · 31/07/2024 16:10

Hateam · 31/07/2024 15:09

2 things

  1. How long is your lunch break? So far it's 2.5 hours. Clearly working hard!
  1. Your own title says you want to refuse to go to the office. If you had said AIBU to ask for reasonable justments, I wouldn't have posted.

Anyway best you get back to postingon mumsnet in the middle of the working day working from home.

Look at the jealousy 😂

DoNotScrapeMyDataBishes · 31/07/2024 16:13

They've still got the bloody heating on in our office! And if we open the windows the noise is unbelievable because we're right on a town centre crossroads... I'm WFH where I have an air conditioner and a loo that doesn't take 4 hours to refill between flushes - but work try to encourage us to WFH so they can cut down on office space they need to provide now

Hateam · 31/07/2024 16:49

harmfulsweeties · 31/07/2024 16:10

Look at the jealousy 😂

Show quote history

Absolutely!

I love to be able to post on the Internet during work hours!

Sadly I don't work from home.

YOYOK · 31/07/2024 17:06

Hateam · 31/07/2024 16:49

Absolutely!

I love to be able to post on the Internet during work hours!

Sadly I don't work from home.

Show quote history

You could change jobs if it bothers you so much.

I did a job which involved a lot of driving and walking around various places. Imagine if I’d made pointed remarks about a ward nurse or a teacher who gets to stay at work in one location. That would be ridiculous.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 31/07/2024 17:19

I think a lot of people are missing the OP’s update that this has now been agreed.

ExpatAl · 31/07/2024 17:48

All of us in northern Europe are going to need to adjust our homes and offices. Mediterranean countries are struggling too. We can’t continue as we were.

Heygal · 31/07/2024 18:01

Im an office worker without aircon. I HATE the heat, I cannot regulate my body heat and struggle in the hot weather. To make things worse I am now pregnant and the heat is just suffocating. The ladies I work with love the heat and are very slim and do not experience the same difficulty as me. The pregnancy gives me a ‘legitimate’ reason to not have to work in the office on those hot days and if I do, I sit in the dark, with fans on and moan the whole time!!

Original poster
Floofydawg · 31/07/2024 18:02

@Heygal I hope they let you open windows.

OP posts:
Heygal · 31/07/2024 18:08

Yes… but conversely I still run too warm and they sit there in additional fleeces. I can’t get away with wearing too little clothes particularly as a solicitor!

Btb · 31/07/2024 18:08

I can’t tolerate high heat and it makes me violently poorly I would ring in sick for sure , I’ve been so ill over the last few days due to the heat , I would not go in a hot office with no windows open ever

EMMinthepink · 31/07/2024 18:10

I am in HR and WFH is definitely a reasonable adjustment given the situation. Email your manager and make the request, citing reasonable adjustment, and cc in HR.

winniebeen · 31/07/2024 18:19

We really must move past the 'everyone needs to be in the office malarkey'

I have managed many a team, collocated and separate and even off shore and they all perform largely in the same way unless there is significant disfunction, not related to their location.

The best thing that works (according to me + the industry) is hybrid and self defining work locations. Some people love the office and thrive, some people wilt. Some people love being at home and some people wilt. Not one size fits all.

cherish123 · 31/07/2024 18:22

They cannot refuse to let you open a window. If you are too hot, it can make you ill. It's irrelevant whether it's caused by the menopause.

Hateam · 31/07/2024 18:25

YOYOK · 31/07/2024 17:06

You could change jobs if it bothers you so much.

I did a job which involved a lot of driving and walking around various places. Imagine if I’d made pointed remarks about a ward nurse or a teacher who gets to stay at work in one location. That would be ridiculous.

Edited
Show quote history

I have no issue with people working from home.

I have an issue with people skiving at home.

TheEnglishIrishman · 31/07/2024 18:34

Floofydawg · 30/07/2024 16:51

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.

Someone on legal beagles forum will be able to help you with this. It's free online advice from solicitors. I've found it amazing in the past.

spikeandbuffy · 31/07/2024 18:37

Not a hope I would go into the office without AC. We don't even have windows so the AC is vital

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