Is It Too Hot To Work?

There's no legal maximum workplace temperature in the UK — and that surprises almost everyone who asks about it. As amber heat warnings have become a regular part of the British summer, HR managers and business owners are getting the same message on repeat: "it's too hot in the office, can I work from home?" In this episode, you'll learn exactly what UK workplace temperature law does and doesn't say, why "reasonable" is doing all the heavy lifting in the legislation, and what to do when employees push back on working in hot weather. You'll also get a practical steer on building an extreme weather policy now, rather than reacting every time a heatwave hits.

• There is no legal maximum workplace temperature in the UK. The law only requires that temperatures be "reasonable" — the TUC has been campaigning for a hard limit of 30 degrees since at least 2006, and Parliament debated it again last month, but nothing has changed yet.
• "Reasonable" also applies at the lower end. The often-quoted 16-degree minimum isn't a legal requirement either — it's HSE guidance, and the same "reasonable temperature" test applies at both ends of the scale.
• Working from home, where possible, is one of the simplest ways to manage extreme heat. It lets employees dress and cool down in ways they can't in an office, and offering that flexibility during hot weather tends to build genuine loyalty.
• Start with your most at-risk people, not a blanket rule. Employees who are pregnant, going through menopause, or have a relevant disability are a sensible starting point when deciding who needs the most flexibility during a heatwave.
• If an employer has properly risk-assessed the workplace and judged it safe, but an employee still refuses to attend, that becomes a different conversation — around annual leave, unpaid leave, or, ultimately, a conduct issue, rather than a straightforward safety one.
• The TUC's suggested figures are a useful practical benchmark even though they aren't law: 30 degrees generally, 27 degrees for strenuous work, with action triggered at 24 degrees.
• An extreme weather policy is worth dusting off (or writing from scratch) for heat, not just snow. It should set out clearly what's expected of employees and what the business will provide in return — fans, extra breaks, split lunch hours, or a shift to home working.
• Relaxing dress codes in hot weather costs nothing and is generally good practice, provided it's balanced against any genuine uniform or client-facing requirements the business has.

[00:02] Is there a legal maximum workplace temperature?[01:48] Why this summer feels different[03:06] Productivity and comfort vs the letter of the law[06:44] The cost of preparing for hotter summers[08:00] What to do when employees push back[11:16] Do businesses need an extreme weather policy?[14:35] Should there be legislation on maximum temperature?[18:52] Relaxing dress codes in hot weather

Resources Mentioned

1. TUC (Trades Union Congress) — referenced for its long-standing campaign for a legal maximum workplace temperature of 30 degrees (27 degrees for strenuous work), first called for around 2006
2. HSE (Health and Safety Executive) — referenced for its non-statutory guidance on the 16-degree minimum workplace temperature
3. UK Parliament — referenced for debating a maximum workplace temperature bill in the past month

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