Can I refuse to work in this cold?

LadyMissA

jc808 wrote: »

Heres something constructive - put on another jumper.

what do you say when it get's too hot? Wear a bikini/swimwear into the office! lol

persa

Charityworker wrote: »

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.

When you say 3 heaters, do you mean those little portable electric heaters? If you have three on and you're inside with all the doors and windows shut (even if draughty), I would expect you to feel a lot warmer than that? It may be a case of using extension cables to position them better?

Does the charity manage the building itself, or is there an external facilities team you can take this up with? It sounds like there is a case for maintenance falling due.

Have you contacted your line manager? (I appreciate they might not be working over the festive period, just because you are.)

If you're really stuck, the key to coping with freezing offices is to wear as many thin layers as possible - putting on two thick jumpers might seem like a good idea, but you probably won't be able to move very well and do any filing etc if you opt for that suggestion! I know many people who have moved to the UK from warmer climes - the men tend to wear thermals and the women, several pairs of tights...

You have my sympathies, in your situation, I would just work from home, but I understand not everyone has this option available to them. It's horrible trying to work when shivering away.

fedster

10 Degrees is not Cold, try working in a Warehouse that does not have Heating when its between -2 an4 Degrees outside, its terrible, especally when its a 6am start, people love to complain however 10 Degrees in a Office is not Cold!!!!! Man Up!!!

Killmark

You can easily minimise issues with the cold using appropriate clothing e.g thermals.

I was working abroad a few years ago during winter months in -15 to -20 C not counting windchill, this involved standing still for 10mins while using a total station before walking 50 yards to the next grid co-ordinate and repeating the process again.

ILW

It's a charity, I truly hope that their main priority is to the "cause" rather than keeping the admin staff nice and comfy.

persa

ILW wrote: »

It's a charity, I truly hope that their main priority is to the "cause" rather than keeping the admin staff nice and comfy.

If the OP and their colleagues are too cold to work effectively, failing to keep the office warm may well prove a false economy.

I am not suggesting that the charity provides the OP with luxury hot chocolate and biscuits from Waitrose, but I don't think it's unreasonable for the OP to want to work in a moderately heated environment!

ffacoffipawb

prowla wrote: »

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

Let us hope it is so in Leningrad!

TrickyWicky

fedster wrote: »

10 Degrees is not Cold, try working in a Warehouse that does not have Heating when its between -2 an4 Degrees outside, its terrible, especally when its a 6am start, people love to complain however 10 Degrees in a Office is not Cold!!!!! Man Up!!!

Bloody hell thats nothing! At least you have walls and a roof to keep you safe from the wind and the rain!

Imagine being a former council CEO (traffic warden is the common name) in the same conditions with no roof, no walls, just a thin coat and a crap hat.

Wind howling in your face at -5C, hands and fingers are blue, unable to write because your fingers can barely move and then being stuck out in it for hours on end. I'd be very surprised if many folks other than dustmen could beat that.

Seriously Op, if you want to complain at having 10 degrees (which is at least above zero) then you need to stop and think about the other poor sods out there instead of whining and asking if you can take the day off. There are people out there who are enduring far worse than you. Either put something else on or find another job.

I was outside once with just a shirt on when the heavens opened and seriously !!!!ed it down on me (no, actually it happened twice). I was so drenched you could see my nipples and even my underwear was soaking wet. Some of you may well laugh that the traffic warden got his just deserves but the point is that some people have it far worse than office workers.

SarEl

Oh for God's sake this is not a "when I were a lad we had only one pair of shoes between ten of us and even those had holes" competition. Has this forum turned into a bunch a raving lunatics today? Or are we genuinely now advocating that if one employee has !!!! poor conditions then everyone else should too? And be grateful for it? You are all acting like a bunch of 3 year olds, ganging up on one poor OP who did not whine or expect the day off - they simply wanted to know what their rights are in this situation and what they should do. But apparently we don't do help, advice or support on this forum any more - all we do is bully and berate and swear at people for daring to ask. Who needs bad employers when they can have you lot. God help anyone who has you lot for colleagues - or do rights only apply if you happen to be the employee? This thread has been turned into a disgrace to MSE.

And apologies to the couple of people who tried to help the OP - you were not included in my remarks above.

fedster

Earl you are going extremly ott, my point is 10 Degrees is not cold, especially in an Office Enviroment,i think this is a valid point.