There’s no law in the UK that says a given temperature is too hot or too cold to work.
But guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), external says employers must stick to health and safety at work law, 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 usually need to follow their contracts and work with their employer to find a suitable and safe way to work”.
Acas chief executive Niall Mackenzie says it is usually “a last resort in extreme circumstances” if a workplace has to be closed, or a worker is unable to travel or work because of the heat.
“Any such decision should only be taken where there are no alternative options and should be communicated clearly and in good time,” he says, adding employers should be flexible and consider relaxing rules where possible.
Last month, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) said the UK should introduce a maximum temperature 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 work involves “rigorous physical effort”.
Michelle Last, a partner at Keystone Law, says an employee might be able to refuse to work if their workplace is so hot they feel they are in “serious or imminent danger”, but such circumstances are likely to be exceptional.
And she says an employee with a disability which is adversely affected by the heat may be able to legitimately ask for adjustments, such as access to a fan or working from home.
Employees with a particular concern should raise this with their line manager, she says, adding: “Unless there are extenuating circumstances, the rest of us must keep cool and carry on.”