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.

Oh my god the excuses MNetters come up with these days so as not to have to go into the office just reached new heights. Is your home fully air conditioned? I doubt it

Get a cheap portable fan, loads on Amazon
the menopause is awful & can make people tetchy

I think you need to work on your reading comprehension, and perhaps your empathy too.

The OP clearly said they have no aid con and are not allowed to open the windows.

I would assume the OP is able to open the windows in her own home.

Where did I say it makes me a heroine? …fucking weird comment 🙄…...I work in the community …..in patients houses…..some are like sweat boxes…..some are quite cool…..depending on how people live….. I just get on with it….doesn’t worry me either way……the office buildings are for staff only

All these people who assume everyone who works from home is skiving - I guess we know how hard they work when their bosses aren’t looking. 😂

Except this thread is about OP who is feeling unwell from the heat. It’s not about you. Although I’m guessing the car you use to get from one visit to the next has aircon and windows that open 😂

Yes - but you can choose what to wear, shorts and vest top for example with no bra that you couldn't get away with in the office.

You can also have iced water and a fan pointed in whatever position makes you more comfortable- health & safety in some offices may say this is a trip hazard.

Sweat pouring from your face isn't as embarrassing at home!

I agree about not going in. I mainly WFH and went into the office on Monday. It was so hot I couldn’t concentrate and was almost falling asleep at the desk (no air con at all in NHS offices). Don’t see the point in suffering when you can work from home

I don't assume everyone working from home is skiving.

I assume everyone who buys a mouse juggler that is undetectable to IT departments is skiving.

Amazon sell tens of thousands of these.

@Hateam

"I don't assume everyone working from home is skiving.

I assume everyone who buys a mouse juggler that is undetectable to IT departments is skiving.

Amazon sell tens of thousands of these "

Except in my work we are linked to Teams and need to be able to answer messages and phone calls at ANY time of the day. A mouse juggler can't answer a call for you!

So why do people buy mouse jigglers?

Why does it need to be undetectable to IT departments?

I was allowed home when I was pregnant because there is a maximum safe temperature for that. Unfortunately there's not one otherwise. We just had to bake when the air-con broke. It seems madness that you could work from home but they won't let you though 🤦‍♀️

What?

They did let her!

When she asked, they said yes and allowed her to work from home for the rest of the week.

What more do you want?

That seems to be a management of staff issue, not producing any meaningful work with no output accountability rather than a WFH issue.

It is my opinion tthat anybody who buys a mouse jiggler that is undetectable to IT departments does so to make it look like they're working when they are not.

Amazon sell tens of thousands of them. Therefore tens of thousands of people working from home are often having a bit of a skive.

whats your point? My job is to deliver projects, no matter where I am in the world, not jiggle my mouse! Is that why you’re getting all het up by this? Presenteeism is a measure of how hard you appear to be working for your appraisal?

My point , and I really think you do know this, this that many people who are WFH are regularly not working.

That's as may be, but mouse jigglers can't do your work for you.

A decent manager should have a handle on what work each of their direct reports is supposed to be doing and whether it is actually getting done.

This applies whether people are WFH or in the office.

I agree 100%

A decent manager should have a handle on what their staff are doing.

Therefore a management issue not a wfh issue.
In my experience there are lazy people who work from offices who seem to get away with doing very little, chatting incessantly and disturbing colleagues who want to get on with their work.

It cannot be assumed that just because they are at a desk, in front of a computer and in an office, they are productive. They are just present.

Where do you work?

I agree.

Those people will push it further if they WFH.

I'm a teacher.

Your employer should be providing fans.

In my office: windows open. Huge fans are provided for the meeting rooms where the aircon isn't working. There are a variety of fans around the building (big ones and little personal usb ones). The aircon is cranked up downstairs (real breeze in the corridor), we can all go to work in the canteen which has aircon if we want.
And lots of people have exemptions to work at home due to health conditions, which menopause symptoms are one.