Work economising on heating but I'm pregnant - AIBU?

[ChezhireCatz]

NC for this.
I work for a small firm in a grade two building so it's a bit of a nightmare to heat/light/aircon.

Our director has been moaning about the cost of energy tripling this quarter and started a 'energy cut back initiative' in which we got to submit ideas.

Today we have had an email saying that we must only put the heating on for 2 hours per morning and afternoon, and that air conditioning units will no longer work from next week.

I get it. Times are tight.

But I'm 24 weeks pregnant. I'm very concerned about working in an environment which is unsuitable in terms of heating and cooling.

I can find no guidance on this on the great internet so thought I would ask the wise minds of Mumsnet.... can I object on the grounds of pregnancy?

No. You're quite capable of wearing appropriate clothing, surely?

Buy heated gloves or a heated gilet if you're desperate.

Can you not wear something warmer, or can you work from home?

Wear warm, suitable clothes.

Hmm pregnant women work in all sorts of conditions, you should request the risk assessment they should have done when you informed them you were pregnant be updated with this new policy though. Personally I'd layer up and take layers off as necessary, likely that your body temp will be different to others (do people in an office ever agree on the correct temp?).

Wear warmer clothing. It really is that simple.

I would request your risk assessment being updated to reflect the change. However I'm not sure what you are concerned about surely the office doesn't run both air con and heating together anyway so maybe it's just a case of managing the space better?

Yeah, cos women in Siberia etc never get pregnant... 🙄

Hah, ok, so I'm being a drama queen about this :D
I'll just layer up.

can I object on the grounds of pregnancy?

If you want eye rolls every time your name is mentioned for the next 5 years, sure.

Honestly op, don't be a princess and make yourself someone people snigger about behind their back. Just put a jumper on like everyone else will.

Get thermals for this winter. We all should really be buying thermals anyway

I don't think being a bit chilly is a pregnancy risk. Wear layers. Sit with a hot water bottle or wheat pack on you if you need extra heat.

I found I was hotter than I had ever been during pregnancy so you might not find it too bad anyway.

I don’t really see what the objection would be - being pregnant doesn’t really impact your ability to regulate your temperature. Only risk that I know of is extreme overheating (like being in a sauna or hot tub). If you are concerned speak to your midwife but like others I think it’s just a case of getting an extra cardi or two.

You'll be fine, later up. It's easy to worry a lot / be a drama queen while pregnant, blame the hormones!

Enjoy your pregnancy

You're not going to feel the cold if you're heavily pregnant! Worrying about lack of airco I could understand but we're going into winter. You'll be fine.

Warm clothing. I was working on railway tracks until 30 weeks pregnant, in November, in northern England… thermals all the way!

Anyone can object on the grounds of being human. But if you layer up and are still feeling cold then you should bring it up & maybe they can keep the heating on a little longer.

Your boss might, because you're pregnant, let you have a small fan or infrared heater for under your desk ?

But as long as temps stay within legal range I don't think you have a leg to stand on!

Take in hot water bottles or use those sticky heat pads for backache.

www.gov.uk/workplace-temperatures#:~:text=During%20working%20hours%20the%20temperature,employees%20are%20doing%20physical%20work.

If it gets below 16 I'd complain but that would apply to anybody, pregnant or not.

Just wear clothing appropriate to the environment.
As I moved into my 3rd trimester, I was too warm most of the time, so wore a lot of loose linen. We didn't have aircon at work so it wasn't an option. I cooked on the tube but just carried a bottle of water and knew every loo on the way home. 😀

Government guidance is for a minimum office temperature of 16C, which isn't very warm by many people's standards. So if they're suggesting heating it to more than that for two hours, and letting it drop but still above 16C, then they're probably well within the law.

Personally I'd rather have a lower thermostat temperature on steady all day in the office, instead of two hours of heat then cold. For the same energy, it'll probably be more comfortable that way. But I'm not sure you're in any position to force one or the other?

I'd be more worried about the aircon not being on! I was always sweating to death when I was pregnant. One thing I wasn't was cold! (And I was pregnant over two bitterly cold winters).

What harm do you think will be caused to your baby by being cold?

Its September so if you are in the UK I wouldn't expect the air con going off next week to present you with any issues

Generally speaking you are more likely to feel warmer rather than colder during pregnancy, so the lack of heating may affect you less than some others

If you do feel cold, it can be normal but its also a good indicator to get your blood pressure, iron levels and thyroid levels checked as these can all go a bit off during pregnancy

Having said that I am a bit 🙄about a heating decision which is likely scientifically speaking to disproportionately affect women over men.

if it is an office 16C is considered OK if it lower than that an hour after starting work you could mention it, this is not absolutely law but guidance

From my experience of pregnancy in a couple of months time you will be too bloody hot even with the heating off. Invest in some layers but speak up if your hands are too cold to work.