Relax dress codes at work in heatwave

With thermometers set to hit 30°C in the South East, and the mid to high 20°Cs in other parts of England and Wales, the TUC is calling on employers to temporarily relax workplace dress codes to help their staff work through the heatwave as comfortably as possible.

The sudden increase in temperatures means that many workplaces may become unbearably hot, warns the TUC. While there is a legal limit below which workplace temperatures should not fall (16°C), most people may be unaware that there is no upper limit.

The TUC has been pushing for many years for a change in safety regulations to introduce a new maximum temperature of 30°C — or 27°C for those doing strenuous work — with employers obliged to adopt cooling measures when the workplace temperature hits 24°C.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “It’s no fun working in a baking office or factory.... Extreme heat can be as unpleasant to work in as extreme cold, and ... many workers will be working in conditions that are not just personally unpleasant, but will also be affecting their productivity.

“Making sure that everyone has access to fans, portable air conditioning units and cold drinking water should help reduce the heat in offices, factories, shops, hospitals, schools and other workplaces across the country.”

www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/health-and-safety/relax-workplace-dress-codes-help-staff-cope-week%E2%80%99s-heatwave-says