All of my clients are talking about the hot weather and what this means for their employees. Is there a right to be sent home from work when it gets too hot?
Heat waves in Britain are rare so, when they occur, high temperatures in the workplace is a common complaint from staff and employers may wonder what legal obligations they have to address the temperature increase.
There is no specific maximum temperature where the law requires employers to send staff home. Instead, Health and Safety Regulations require workplace temperatures to be “reasonable”. A reasonable temperature will depend on the nature of the workplace and the type of work that is carried out by employees, for example, a reasonable temperature will differ for staff that work in a kitchen as opposed to those who work in an office. Carrying out a risk assessment and speaking to staff about a suitable temperature will help identify what is reasonable.
Certain members of staff may be more vulnerable to hot weather, for example, those who are pregnant or have a disability. Your clients should be taking extra steps to help them keep healthy whilst being at work, such as allowing them frequent rest breaks or providing desktop fans to cool them down.
Your clients can consider other ways of helping staff to combat the heat and feel more comfortable at work. Relaxing the normal dress code is a quick way of cooling staff down although this may depend on whether the employee is required to wear a uniform or protective clothing. If the dress code is relaxed, your clients should speak to their staff about what clothing is acceptable to ensure standards are still met.
Simple steps to show staff that their attendance at work whilst it’s hot is appreciated will also go a long way. Benefits, such as ice lollies or cold drinks, will have a positive effect on staff and provide motivation on a hot day.
Taking a positive, understanding approach to hot weather at work will encourage staff to attend and will help to reduce unauthorised absence during the summer months. It will be difficult to please everyone, but taking time to speak to staff and seeking an agreeable temperature will help reduce employee concerns.
