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.

Ask for a fan. Thats what we used to do. 🤷‍♀️

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

And yes you should. Just like anyone else with a medical reason for getting too hot. Reasonable adjustments should be made. I’ve raised it a number of times at my office as sometimes I’m literally dripping sweat and I can hardly work like that

Ask if you could do extra days in the office once the air con is fixed as a compromise.

Of course you should get special treatment if you are suffering from the menopause.

Buy a USB desk fan and take it in with you. I have one pointed at me at home all day. Highly recommend.

amzn.eu/d/01GduOae

My point was that with the current temperatures very few people are comfortable in offices but function perfectly well without air con. I would guess that less offices have air con than those that do.

the world can’t stop every time someone gets a bit hot.

You might be fortunate by Thursday that the temperature is lower than today. I think you should be talking to HR about a reasonable adjustment.

There should be a maximum temperature at least in offices. I can understand why aircon has not been fixed, as either those who can fix it are snowed under with demands, or are on holiday.

Agree

A reasonable adjustment would be to supply a fan or bring in your own & to have a bottle of water with you.

It's the employer who has to make reasonable adjustments. So the employer needs to supply fans and water. Not the employee.

A few less or different days coming into an office a year is not unreasonable, and cheaper than having air con. You are right that above 25C is often only a few days a year, hence sensible adjustments.

Oh grow up, OP! It's part of the job, so just do it. You can't "refuse". Before the pandemic you wouldn't have thought twice about it, and thousands of people do fine in so-called hot and sweaty offices.

Talk about taking one for the team. I hope you had a speedy recovery.

You do know that people actually die in extreme temperatures dont you? Would you say they were being ‘princesses’?
Here’s what the HSE says.
https://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/employer/index.htm

OMG - you could have died.
Absolutely ridiculous not to allow reasonable adjustment in this heat.
Policies before people.

where i am there are laws about temperature in offices. when it gets above a certain temperature, you go home. Same in schools. And same when it gets below a certain temperature.

But in the UK you allowed your rights to be whittled away, so you don't have rules like this.

You obviously don’t work for the nhs….never once worked in an air conditioned office in 30 years …. You are being a bit of a princess…. Just go in lightweight clothing

Well get you

Before the pandemic I dictated my own WFH days. Because I'm senior enough and grown up enough to do that.

Think about the savings in energy costs if offices didnt have to either be heated or cooled.

WFH is saving the planet!!!

Cheers it wasn’t too bad because i was floppy apparently just a few bruises and a banged head. Thank you for your good wishes

I’m a legend there now

I've been working in a kitchen all day, sweat running down my back. All the kitchen staff are boiling but I can't just let them go home because it's hot. We have air-conditioning on the dining area, staff can have as many cold drinks and aircon breaks as they need, but we still need to work in the heat.

Get a neck fan, drink iced water, get a grip

Yeh of course 🙄

But it's not particularly hot at the moment.

Of course I do, but these are hardly ‘extreme’ temperatures 😂 out office was 32 degrees today - that’s winter temperatures in some places in the world.
often places that have much less available to make themselves comfortable than we do.
get a grip!