Can I refuse to work in this cold?

Charityworker

I work for a charity as an administrator. Weve recently moved to a new building which is freezing. Every window and door has a draft coming through it. I have 3 heaters on but it's still only 10 degrees in here. I'm sitting here in a wooly sweater with a hot water bottle up it and still freezing. I don't want to lose my job though so it looks like I will have to put up with it.

wearethedogs

I used to work in an office with a guy who kept a thermometer in his desk. He said that if the temperature was below a certain amount then the company was breaking the law and he didn't have to leave. You should do a search to see if this is the case. Clearly it will exclude circumstances when your job description involved working in cold temperatures (e.g. in fridges or outside).

According to this link, there are reccomended temperatures but they are not law.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/temperature.htm

prowla

10 degrees isn't freezing - the weather is remarkably clement for the time of year.

Charityworker

wearethedogs wrote: »

I used to work in an office with a guy who kept a thermometer in his desk. He said that if the temperature was below a certain amount then the company was breaking the law and he didn't have to leave. You should do a search to see if this is the case. Clearly it will exclude circumstances when your job description involved working in cold temperatures (e.g. in fridges or outside).

According to this link, there are reccomended temperatures but they are not law.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/temperature.htm

Oh well they are breaking the law then if the minimum is 16 degrees. Thanks for the info.

dandelionclock30

Last year it was 3 in the office I worked and people sat with blankets and quilts round themselves.I told them it was illegal etc and asked to go home etc as my hands were blue. I thought it was really bad but nobody elce said anything. Anyway this was one of the things that marked my card and when they had an excuse to get rid of me I was gone.
Ask your union rep to have a word with the managers and buy yourself a thermal fleece/ leggings or tights to help with the cold.

Emmzi

read it again. there is no law. there is only a guideline.

caeler

I think you've got the right idea, they might be breaking the law but you don't want to lose your job. It sounds like your doing all you can to keep warm (thick jumper, heater, hot water bottles, etc) so I think you have to mention it and see what if anything they can do.
Others things you could try: one of those under desk heaters which blow hot air are nice, have you tried a fleece blanket for over your legs under the desk? They can be quite discreet too. Also gloves with the fingers cut out can work. Thermal underwear, primark sell some nice ones. Also, getting up for a walk around can help with circulation, sitting still all day makes me cold, can't imagine how I'd cope in those conditions! Also, maybe a bath before you go to work - then at least you'd start the day warm?

Good luck, I hope the situation passes (hopefully before summer!)

SarEl

The law requires that the temperature be comfortable and appropriate - you wouldn't expect balmy temperatures in the cold store, for example. The law used to define certain tempertaures for certain areas, but frankly that was as daft as having none! But in terms of the issue - it might sound like an obvious question, but have you discussed it with your employers? There isn't actually a requirement to quote the law or go in all guns blazing. A nice friendly conversation and perhaps inviting them to test out the temperature for themselves, pointing out that it is nigh on impossible for you to do your job as well as you want to when your teeth are chattering, might just do the trick. People don't generally lose their jobs over being reasonable and having reasonable conversations with their employers - it's more often the case that that happens when they go in demanding things in an intemperate (sorry!) way.

jc808

Just put another jumper on and man up, !!!!!!!!!!!

SarEl

jc808 wrote: »

Just put another jumper on and man up, !!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, and yet again the intelligentsia arrive to save the day. Helpful and positive contribution there. And an assumption that the OP is a "man" - although in my experience a little cold usually lays men out flat.

Obviously you have never tried working in a sedentary occupation when it is 10 degrees in the office. Unless, of course, that is the explanation for your helpful post - freeze dried brain cells. 10 degrees may not be unlawful in itself - but if the office were to be inspected then it certainly would be deemed so. The question is how to constructively do something about it. Not to swear at the poster.

jc808

SarEl wrote: »

Wow, and yet again the intelligentsia arrive to save the day. Helpful and positive contribution there. And an assumption that the OP is a "man" - although in my experience a little cold usually lays men out flat. - Thatll be why the vast majority of Building Site workers are men, then?

Obviously you have never tried working in a sedentary occupation when it is 10 degrees in the office. - Easy enough, just put on a couple of extra layers Unless, of course, that is the explanation for your helpful post - freeze dried brain cells. - Nope, the cold doesnt affect my grey matter thats why im not sat on MSE whining about nothing 10 degrees may not be unlawful in itself - but if the office were to be inspected then it certainly would be deemed so. O Rly The question is how to constructively do something about it. Not to swear at the poster.

Heres something constructive - put on another jumper.