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Original poster

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

63 replies

ChezhireCatz · 07/09/2022 10:18

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?

OP posts:
Sunbun19 · 07/09/2022 10:44

DisforDarkChocolate · 07/09/2022 10:38

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.

I was going to say similar, I was ridiculously warm in the winter when pregnant with first dd, it may be a blessing in disguise op

PutinSmellsPassItOn · 07/09/2022 10:45

Of you're sat at a desk get one of those heated blankets or a.heated lap pad......I can guarantee you'll be far too hot towards and glad of.the cool.air when you can.get it tho.

JasmineIndigo · 07/09/2022 10:49

I’d be more concerned about colleagues who had a condition like arthritis which can flare up in the cold. Being pregnant wouldn’t necessitate special treatments - unless you are in the far north of Scotland it doesn’t actually get that cold in the UK at least nothing a few more layers and a hot water bottle won’t sort out.

Goldbar · 07/09/2022 10:49

I'm also pregnant and I would have objected far more to working in a sweltering office without air con over the summer we have just had than a colder than usual office over winter. What I found towards the end of my first pregnancy was that my tolerance for cold seemed to fluctuate wildly so sometimes I was sweating in a chilly room and sometimes I was shivering in one which was perfectly adequately heated. I ended up wearing thin jersey dresses to work most of the time and carrying a thick woolly cardigan around with me that I slipped on and off around 50 times a day.

DelilahBucket · 07/09/2022 10:50

Give it 6-8 weeks and you'll be saying you're too hot! I was pregnant in winter, gave birth in February and spent it in a t-shirt, with the occasional light fleece when I was outside.

DuggeeHugPlease · 07/09/2022 11:02

I work from home and have always tried to soldier through without putting the heating on at all in the day (it comes on for a few hours in the evening when everyone else is home)
I did the same during both pregnancies with no issues, just wore jumpers and blankets.

Plet · 07/09/2022 11:05

You're quite likely to find that you are boiling hot all of the time anyway. It might be a blessing in disguise.

I spent both of my late pregnancies (in winter and autumn) stripping off, opening windows and expressing anger at the unbearable heat. When I was in the labour ward waiting to be induced, I had a side room to myself and was pretty much next to the open window at all times, desperate for a breeze. I've never felt so hot for so long. Every time a midwife came in they'd try to shut the window and mention that the room was freezing. I've no idea whether I was particularly warm or all pregnant women feel that way, but it was a bit like having a radiator inside my body :)

mansviewpoint · 07/09/2022 11:12

Unfortunately the boss is wrong. The temperature of the room should be kept above 16 centigrade.. not "2 hours"... So if the boss is actually thinking about it correctly they should be putting everything on a thermostat and setting to at lesat 16 degrees. Which is a bit cold on the old fingers if stuck at your desk all day. However given that every hour you should get up from your desk for 5 minutes anyway then you can be warm enough. You can wear as many gloves and coats as you want and have hand warmers. If your boss wanted to do actual energy efficiency then they'd spend money to save money. So if you want to then point out the ways they could be saving money, like secondary glazing on the windows...

Spudlet · 07/09/2022 11:28

Was coming onto day that you’ll probably be glad of it, once your baby starts acting as your own personal central heating system 🥵 😂

It is easy to get carried away worrying when you’re pregnant - I definitely did a bit. But I don’t think you need to worry about this one 😊

abovedecknotbelow · 07/09/2022 11:35

You really dont need to worry about this!

Sally090807 · 07/09/2022 11:43

Relocatiorelocation · 07/09/2022 10:24

Wear warmer clothing. It really is that simple.

Does make you wonder how on earth our grandparents/great grandparents managed in the days before central heating. Surely buy some thermal clothes and layer up. It’s not as though you’ve got no heating at all. 🙄

sevenbyseven · 07/09/2022 11:54

Pregnancy was the first time in my life I never felt cold! So it might be a benefit.

I hate being cold in the office by unfortunately unless the temperature is below 16 the boss is within his rights. Will he be in the office too? At least if he is he might well backtrack when he feels cold!

DoodlePug · 07/09/2022 11:56

I'm with you OP, that sounds like it could be an incredibly uncomfortable working environment.

When people are cold their immune system can be depressed and they're more likely to pick up illnesses. There is a reason they expect more people to die this winter from lack of appropriate heating!

Obviously there is plenty you can do to insulate yourself, but if you're shivering despite multiple layers your employer is not meeting your needs.

I really recommend usb heatpads (amazon), you just stick it up the back of your jumper and plug into your laptop.

rickandmorts · 07/09/2022 11:59

I worked in a bakery during the heatwave when I was pregnant and it was 40 odd degrees. Absolute hell. I'd have much rather been cold 🙈

CateringForThree · 07/09/2022 12:02

Ignoring the crazy answers along the lines of ‘our grand parents lived Wo central heating. just get in with it’…

The regulation around heating is still here. The offices have to be at least 16oC. If it’s an old building etc… they might not be able to achieve the 16oC with two 2 hours with the heating on.

Having actually worked in an office where the temperature was 16oC, I can tell you it affected the way we worked. People moved around much more rather than sitting at their desk. Cups of tea etc… Its harder to type with some mittens on etc… (I know I had to wear some as a layer. I tend to be very cold in the first place)

So I’d wait and see what’s going on incl the temperature the building is in.

You have the advantage of being already 24 weeks so you would be able to go on ML very soon if it is becoming untenable for you.

But one of the very big issue here is the fact many businesses will not be able to afford the increase in utilities and will end up closing down because of that…. Some people might prefer to accept being cold and still have a job. This doesn’t mean it should be the automatic answer or that’s it’s an acceptable position.

Calmdown14 · 07/09/2022 12:23

I mean you might have some grounds to complain in January but in early September with a decent ambient temperature which doesn't really require heating or cooling, you are going to look an idiot.

WimbyAce · 07/09/2022 12:30

I always called my bump my hot water bottle so you will be fine!

Johnnysgirl · 07/09/2022 12:35

But I'm 24 weeks pregnant. I'm very concerned about working in an environment which is unsuitable in terms of heating and cooling.
You're about to acquire your very own internal heating system, so you'll be absolutely fine.
You certainly don't need special ambient considerations because you're pregnant either, though.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 07/09/2022 12:43

We've just had a very pregnant lady moved into the only office with aircon and she's over the moon about it.

It probably won't be an issue for you over winter.

ProseccoStorm · 07/09/2022 12:52

2hrs morning and 2hrs afternoon? That's pretty generous tbh.

We live in an old cold listed house and it's on 2hr total in the day unless we have guests.

I'm sure you won't freeze, pregnant or not.

CateringForThree · 07/09/2022 13:04

ProseccoStorm · 07/09/2022 12:52

2hrs morning and 2hrs afternoon? That's pretty generous tbh.

We live in an old cold listed house and it's on 2hr total in the day unless we have guests.

I'm sure you won't freeze, pregnant or not.

You have no idea how well insulated that building is or not. Whether a building is listed or not isn’t the only thing that will impact that. How much traffic (Aka how often the door to the outside is open) would probably be the one the biggest factor here.

The only thing that stand here is the law.

Summersdreaming · 07/09/2022 13:08

Won't you be on maternity over winter, I'm sure you won't freeze in autumn with a cardi on.

ProseccoStorm · 07/09/2022 13:11

@CateringForThree

Of course, all buildings are variable, as is the outside temp etc.

My point was that 4hrs of heating (if it is 4 rather than 2 total), doesn't seem unreasonable, and that many people don't have 4hrs of heating on at home during the day.

I'm sure if the temp dropped below the legal minimum it wouldn't just be the OP who would suggest to the boss that it wasn't working and they needed more.

MoggyP · 07/09/2022 13:13

My first thought was 'lucky you'

The changes to your circulation mean you won't feel the cold as much, and in a normal year you'd be the one pissing off your colleagues by asking for the heating to go down because you're stifling.

It's similar, but opposite way round, to why being pregnant over the height of summer is pretty miserable

justaladyLOL · 07/09/2022 13:18

Women have babies in Siberia