With temperatures set to exceed 30°C this week, we asked HR commentators for advice on how to support employees working in extreme heat.
Despite rising temperatures, employers are not legally obliged to provide air conditioning, fans or set maximum indoor temperatures in the workplace, according to office space provider Office Freedom.
While 16°C is widely considered the lower limit of comfortable office temperatures, there is no upper limit, meaning bosses are not breaking the law if employees are working in uncomfortably hot conditions.
However, according to Dale Allen, founder of The Safety-Verse, a platform that provides easy-to-use health and safety resources, there are steps employers can take to create a more comfortable working environment in hot weather.
“If your office doesn’t have air conditioning, it can be difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature in hot weather,” Allen said, “However, employers can take steps. Offices should provide fans and plenty of cold water for employees.”
Allen also suggested relaxing workplace dress codes where it’s safe to do so, though this may be more difficult for outdoor roles requiring safety equipment. He added that helping outdoor and manual workers stay cool presents additional challenges.
He said: “For people working outside or doing heavy jobs, they need shade, more breaks and cooler times to work. Allowing staff to avoid working at the hottest times of the day – between 11am and 3pm – can help. Making sure there are good supplies of cold water, suncream and sun hats is also a good idea. Safety clothing and equipment are often very warm; investing in lighter weight protective clothing can help, but in very high temperatures, it may be necessary for work to be halted completely.
“HR departments should also offer training and education to staff, to help them recognise the signs of dehydration, sunstroke and heat exhaustion.”
Flexible working is another way employers can support employees during a heatwave.
Rufus Hood, a flexible staffing platform, said : “For employees that live far away from the office, it might be best to give them the option to work from home, so that they can avoid travelling on crowded public transport in extreme heat. Alternatively, these workers may want to start and finish earlier to avoid peak travel times.”
To improve employee wellbeing at work during a heatwave, Hood also advised managers create “designated cooling areas” where possible.
“Ideally this would be an empty, air conditioned room where workers can rest and rehydrate throughout their shifts,” he explained.
