Can you keep your kids off school or refuse to work during a heatwave?
There is no law in the UK that says a certain temperature is too hot or too cold to work.
However Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), external It says employers must adhere to occupational health and safety legislation, which includes keeping temperatures at a “comfortable” level and “providing clean and fresh air”.
Workplace advice group Acas says that “except in extreme circumstances, workers should generally comply with their contracts and work with their employers to find a suitable and safe way to work.”
Acas CEO Niall Mackenzie says it is often a “last resort in extraordinary circumstances” if a business needs to close or a worker is unable to travel or work due to the heat.
“Such a decision should only be taken where alternative options are not available and must be communicated clearly and in a timely manner.” He added that employers should be flexible and consider relaxing the rules whenever possible.
Last month the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) said the UK should introduce maximum temperatures for workplaces to protect people as heatwaves intensify due to climate change.
In cold weather, the HSE says the minimum temperature for an indoor workplace should normally be at least 16C, or 13C if the job requires “very intense physical exertion”.
