Working in the heat

Working-in-heat-hr-advice

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It’s safe to say that not many people operate well in extremely high temperatures. Intense heat in the workplace can result in reduced productivity and motivation from staff, especially if it becomes too uncomfortable to work.

Hot temperatures in the workplace can often lead to fatigue, which in turn reduces the productivity of staff. Depending on how hot it actually is in your place of work, you could even see some members of staff struggling to the point where they’re no longer able to work efficiently at all, so it’s important that you take the necessary precautions and put measures in place to prevent this happening.

While the rules of working in the heat aren’t universal and there’s no exact right or wrong way to operate a business in the summer, you can use your judgment and instinct to determine what’s right for your employees.

In our guide about working in the heat, we offer some sound advice on how to manage your employees during hot weather spells and how you can accommodate people’s needs without sacrificing business productivity.

What is the minimum/maximum temperature in the workplace?

Many employees would argue that there should be a minimum/maximum temperature in their place of work, but that’s not actually the case.

There is no law in place that states a minimum or maximum temperature within a workplace, and while there are many arguments that there should be, there still isn’t one set temperature to abide by.

What is classed as a reasonable working temperature?

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations Act 1992 states that employers have a responsibility to maintain a “reasonable” and “suitable” temperature within the workplace, but the actual temperature recommendation is not stated.

A guidance of a minimum of 16°C is recommended in most workplaces or 13°C if the work involved is physical, but there is no recommendation or guidance when it comes to maximum temperatures in the workplace.

Each person will have a different opinion when it comes to what they deem to be a reasonable working temperature as everyone’s preferences are different, so even if there was a minimum or maximum temperature stated by law, you’re still not likely to make everyone happy.

While there is no legal requirement to support these efforts, as an employer, you must ensure that there is sufficient ventilation, fresh air and cold drinks and refreshments available to staff at all times where possible during hot weather within their workplace.

Try to accommodate staff’s wishes and listen to their complaints

It’s human nature, especially for us Brits, to complain about the weather. We’re seemingly never quite happy, regardless of whether there’s a blanket of beautiful fresh snow outside, or if it’s a beautiful sunny day. There will also always be someone who’s too cold and someone who’s too hot; after all, you can’t please everyone.

However, there is a difference between making general moans and groans about the weather and genuine complaints from staff who appear to actually struggle in the heat (or vice versa).

Instead of dismissing their grumble as a generic moan and groan, try to address their issues before they escalate by offering solutions to their problems.

For example, if an employee is complaining that they’re too hot in the summer, try to move them to a desk that is closer to the air-conditioning or nearer to an open window. While this might not completely resolve their struggles with the heat, you have at least provided them with an alternate solution that shows that you care as an employer.

Consider relaxing the dress code

Depending on the type of work you do and the level of formality in your workplace depends on how able you are to relax the dress code.

For example, if you operate a business in construction, you may be required to provide your staff with safety helmets and hi-vis jackets at all times while they’re working. This means you might not be able to relax the rules when it comes to wearing helmets in the summer as you could risk their safety.

Whereas if you run a business that works in an office environment and your typical dress code consists of smart office attire, you might consider relaxing these rules somewhat during the warmer months so that people can wear clothing that is more comfortable and suitable for the heat.

If possible, relaxing the dress code at your place of work can have a positive effect on your employees as it shows that you’ve considered their needs and what’s best for them and you’re willing to make adjustments so that they’re comfortable in their place of work.

Offer incentives and rewards after a long day in the heat

Working in an office all day when it’s gorgeous weather outside can definitely have a negative impact on people’s moods and work ethic.

As an employer, you might want to try different productivity and motivational techniques to boost your staff’s morale and to make them feel more appreciated when they’re working in the intense summer temperatures.

Offering office incentives such as ice lollies or cold refreshments on particularly hot days can go a long way with employees as it will help to increase productivity. You could also consider offering flexible working hours so that employees can begin work earlier in the day when it’s slightly cooler outside and finish earlier as well so that they get the chance to enjoy the weather.

If your staff work outside a lot of the time in the sunshine, you might want to consider offering sunscreen and hats as protection while they’re working. It’s not a legal requirement to do this, but it can certainly help to give you extra brownie points as an employer and this kind of gesture is sure to go a long way.

These kinds of incentives show your employees that you appreciate their hard work and you’ve recognised that it’s not always nice to work in such high temperatures.

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