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.

Can you ask for the 2 days per week to be averaged over this week/next week, and go in for 4 days next week when it’s cooler? That way you’re showing willingness to comply with their policy, whilst avoiding the worst of the hot weather.

Im sure you'll survive. Everyone else is in the same boat.

I didn’t though.

Get a cooler towel.

Does your company have a menopause policy?
It should, and this is exactly something that should be considered within that policy.

Some buildings heat up much more than others. My relative's flat doesn't even need heating in the winter, it's so well insulated, but the rest of the year, in mild temperatures in the afternoon it's like a furnace, and I can't imagine how unbearable it must be right now.

Stop minimising the OP. I realise that there are lots of employees who have no choice but to work in the heat and I feel for them. But if you can work from home effectively then you should be allowed to. Not suffer needlessly in the office just because everyone else is. And not especially if you're menopausal.

I wouldn’t advocate a fan, in our office they nearly cause a punch up as it blows onto other peoples desks making them chilly/blowing their paper work about etc. The again there’s regular “disagreements” over the air conditioning temperature - some like it like the Sahara, others like the Arctic. Big open plan offices are shit.

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

agreed. But IIRC the op wasn’t suggesting we stop the world was she? or did I miss that?

i thought she was proposing she could WFH for a couple of days, like she does the rest of the week, so she’s more comfortable?

but I might have entirely misunderstood and she may have been suggesting we stop the world, you’re right @TeaAndBrie

Thank goodness that - as a society - we have moved on

And regardless of whether or not there is an upper limit on temperature, there is Government guidance, that employers must follow, that states the following:

*Employers must stick to health and safety at work law, including:

• keeping the temperature at a comfortable level
• providing clean and fresh air

Employees should talk to their employer if the workplace temperature isn’t comfortable*

https://www.acas.org.uk/extreme-temperatures-in-the-workplace#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20legal%20maximum,workplace%20and%20working%20from%20home.

You’d be wrong there! It’s been In every company handbook in all the companies I’ve contacted in for the last five years.

Thankyou, that's helpful.

I’m usually the first person in our office these days so I put the fans in the window to draw in the cool morning air then I close all the blinds on the sunny side - later in the day I close the windows and blinds as the sun moves and we keep it reasonable using the fans. Failing all that we pile into the two conference rooms with air con

Portable air conditioning units?
They can be hired

To everyone saying just bring a fan in, you can't all electrical appliances have to be tested in a workplace so unless you have a qualified person on site who can do the testing it's just not possible.

Pre covid it wasn’t so easy to work from home. She now can. And given the heat, menopause and lack of air conditioning it’s perfectly reasonable to work from home.

Are you a firefighter?

Well I mean they could open the bloody windows for a start!

You're quite correct. I don't require the world to stop.

Also I would argue that opening windows definitely helps. I've had a lovely breeze through my home office window today.

BurntBroccoli. Full of sympathy as ever, I see! Get a grip, indeed! How DARE you! Other places in the world do not have any relevance to this person’s complaint! I dare say she’d love to live somewhere cooler at the moment! If you can’t help to make things more bearable, why don’t you go and do something else instead?

@TeaAndBrie, glad to see you have both empathy and common sense, unlike some!

Many people work in an environment that doesn’t have air con ! Fair to say that if I refused to go to work because of the heat I would loose my NMC PIN number! Vulnerable people involved.
Take a fan in ,cool spray etc

I am sympathetic but I can’t help feeling your attitude towards this is underpinned by a general resentment of being made to work in the office two days a week.

There weren't really people collapsing left right and centre, you do realise that don't you? I was talking about offices in the 80's & 90's, not an 18th century hatting factory. In any event, I don't think many offices (except maybe for huge tower blocks) have air con in 2024. Most people still work with a desk fan.

Do you have a union rep? They should be able to help you deal with this as a health and safety/equality issue.