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.

Just asking re the "Oh aye", are you (like me) Scottish OP? It really isn't very hot?

Basically you just don't want to work in the office so you will find anything to complain about.

Not being a martyr, just saying it as it is!

Unfortunately employment law states that any workers can not be expected to work in temperatures of 40 degrees celcius or over. However you're menopausal, your employer needs to make reasonable adjustments for that. The adjustment for you would be working away from the office.

Is it only on mumsnet that 99% of women seem to work in offices?! It's been quite warm today while I've been out and about doing my "out of office" job - maybe I need to apply for one of these ever so accommodating office jobs that come with air con and menopsuse- friendly working conditions. What is it you all do???

99%? Here?! Any time anyone dares to post about their remote or hybrid desk job conditions, along will immediately come a load of other posters who don't work at desk jobs and are determined to make sure that takes centre space in the discussion. It may have absolutely bugger all to do with the situation at hand, but blowed if they let that stop them.

This thread is no different, though admittedly the focus on menopausal building site labourers is niche.

I work in an office where:

We’re not allowed to wfh.
We don’t have aircon
There are several Menopause age women
some people like the windows open, some don’t.
some people like the fan on, some don’t.

We are being paid to do a job no matter what the weather is like or our personal circumstances.

I would have thought this was fairly normal?

In the OP's case it's post messages on Mumsnet at 3 in the afternoon.

In fact the OP made multiple posts today during working hours.

No wonder she didn't want to go in to the office!

What do the working from home haters on this thread do for a living?

Yes it was normal pre about 2010 and the rise in popularity of Skype.
Maybe your employer didn't get the memo?

I went to an office today. I had two meetings which were better in person, though could have been at any venue.

The aircon worked though. Asking to postpone office visits until it is cooler or the aircon is fixed seems reasonable to me.

My employer is the NHS so I would imagine this is fairly standard across a lot of Trusts in the UK.

There a still a lot of older hospitals and health service property whose internal plumbing doesn’t support aircon installation - such as the one I work in.

Were people really wfh in 2010? I don’t know anywho did this pre covid 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Instinct1 ha no, I'm not Scottish. I just like the phraseology.

@annieloulou
Yes definitely normal in 2010. This was a charity.

I think more niche in 2010, but by 2019 there were millions of people working at least hybrid. There was a big move in a lot of public sector jobs to implement compulsory wfh days to save on office costs. Was part of austerity in the 2010s.

Having read this thread I"m amazed we have ever managed to evolve from workhouses and sticking kids up chimneys. So few actually want to change things to improve their working conditions and much rather harp on about how they work in discomfort so everyone should. Depressing the lack of forward thinking and desire to improve work environments and options.

Never mind medical menopause, no one should be forced to work in such conditions, especially when they can work efficiently from home. A fan is just circulating hot smelly air. Some people suffer more than others in such conditions. It's on the company to fix the air-con.

You're saying it how you think it should be.

Anyway, 1952 just zoomed me, they're wanting their attitude back 😉

The air con broke at our place, in the middle of a heat wave, when I was 7 months pregnant. They refused my request to go home. Wish I'd have just told them I felt ill & gone.

So what happens liability wise if someone gets heat stroke

Check the Health and Safety at Work Act.

there is no maximum temperature over which employees can expect to be released from work but your health is a concern and HR need to make reasonable adjustments for you in the current heatwave.

I think if they can’t provide comfortable working conditions then you should be allowed to work from home, if your job can be done there.

Some people suffer more than others in such conditions. It's on the company to fix the air-con.

Agree, I’m one of those people. I have had issues with heat since I was a child. I would feel really hot and before I realised what was happening, I would be slumping to the ground or everything would go dark and I would wake up on the ground.

I didn’t find out what was happening until I was 30. My blood pressure is just naturally on the lower end of healthy and when really hot which is easy for me because I already run warm ( wear a thin top and leggings with a coat in the middle of winter warm), it just plummets quickly and lights out. There’s nothing I can do other than minimise my time in the sun and heat, carry an umbrella and a water bottle when out and when in keep fans on, and do things in the coolest parts of the day.

I’m yet to experience menopause but seen mum and other women in my life go through it.. and you’re wrong, you should expect special treatment for it!
And no, don’t go into the office this week!! No one should have the air con is busted and you can’t open a window!