Peterborough office

48 Broadway, Peterborough Cambridgeshire, PE1 1YW

01733 346 333 01733 562 338 enquiries@hegarty.co.uk

Stamford office

10 Ironmonger Street, Stamford Lincolnshire, PE9 1PL

01780 752 066 01780 762 774 enquiries@hegarty.co.uk

Oakham office

66 South Street, Oakham Rutland, LE15 6BQ

01572 757 565 01572 720 555 enquiries@hegarty.co.uk

Market Deeping office

27a Market Place, Market Deeping, PE6 8EA

01778 230 120 01778 230 129 enquiries@hegarty.co.uk
  • Services
  • Sectors
  • Our Team
  • About us
  • Insights & Legal
  • Legal Q&As
  • Useful information
  • Contact us
  • Careers
  • As the Met Office announces that the UK is set for another heat wave this August, many employers and employees are unsure of the regulations and preparations for the workplace in such temperatures.

    How hot is the workplace allowed to be?

    Currently, there is a minimum working temperature of 16°C in an office, but there is no maximum figure. This is due to some workplaces being hot the majority of the time, for example, kitchens. However, the Health and Safety Executive states that employers must keep the space a ‘reasonable’ temperature and ensure the ‘thermal comfort’ of their employees. 

    The reasonable steps an employer should take for the well-being and safety of their staff in warm weather are dependent on the industry they are in. For example, work that occurs outside may mean that the working hours need adjusting so that employers can go inside at the peak heat of the day. Alternatively, office workers may need the temperature regulating through the implementation of fans or air conditioning. It’s also important to note that an employer legally has a duty of care to their employees and therefore, staff can ask to work from home if the workplace cannot be maintained at a reasonable temperature.

    Workplace attire and the heat

    When temperatures rise, staff may want to get their shorts on with a pair of flip-flops, but it is important to ensure that employees do not break the dress code without the employer’s permission.

    Employers can insist that staff stick to the usual dress code despite the heat as this is usually stated in a contract or the employee handbook. However, as an employer, it could be suggested that relaxing the rules a little particularly in extreme heat situations will help with staff moral and absences. 

    In some industries, the employer may need to supply protective clothing and sun cream particularly if the work is being carried out outdoors. Measures may also need to be taken to avoid employees suffering with heatstroke such as allowing more frequent breaks and providing water.

    Commuting and the heat

    If staff travel via public transport such as trains or buses, employers should take into consideration that these services may suffer delays or cancellations due to staff illnesses and technical issues caused by the heat. The same should be carried over to those travelling by car as the heat may cause extra traffic and in some extreme cases, problems with the road’s surfaces. 

     

    If you are an employer who would like more information on how to ensure your workplace can continue to run efficiently during the heatwave, or if you an employee who feels that your workplace is not a reasonable place to work in the heat, please contact Katie Bowen Nicholas.

    Contact our team

    Contact Permission

    We would like to stay in touch with offers, news and event invitations. We will always treat your personal details with respect and we will never sell them to other companies for marketing purposes. You can find details of our full privacy policy here.

    You can stop receiving updates at any time by clicking 'unsubscribe' at the bottom of our emails or by emailing enquiries@hegarty.co.uk

    Please let us know if you would like to hear from us:

    Stay up-to-date with Hegarty