Heaters being banned at work

System

HappyMJ wrote: »

Considering a heater only costs the company 12 pence per hour per person if you have it on the low 1kW setting then compared to your wages it's not much. I'd offer them the 12p/hour if you want to keep your job and prevent others from being annoyed that you can have a heater and others can't. If they still refuse the heater then go to your GP to get a note. That'll cost them much more than 12p/hour.

Another option if they are worried about cost might be an electric overblanket you can put over your legs whilst seated. They are rated at less than 100W and cost about a penny per hour to run.

12p per hour, 8 hours a day = £1 per day. £5 per week. £250 per year. If I was an employer, this is a lot of money

Tiddlywinks

berbastrike wrote: »

12p per hour, 8 hours a day = £1 per day. £5 per week. £250 per year. If I was an employer, this is a lot of money

So you would value your employee's health at less than £250 per year?

In another thread you want to ban staff from wearing perfume etc because you don't like the smell of chemicals...

What a terrific boss you would make!

t0rt0ise

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

So you would value your employee's health at less than £250 per year?

Raynauds disorder would likely count as a disability under the Act so the employer is duty bound to make reasonable adjustments. What is reasonable would depend on the company and its size. A very small company would not be expected to do much whereas a multi national would have to do almost anything. So whether the cost of the heater is reasonable depends on the size of the company.

The OP should attend a meeting because it is likely that they are attempting to abide by the law and accommodate her as per the Act and if she doesn't go along with them they can't be held responsible for not providing adjustments.

Jox

Does OP need a heater every day of the year while at work, or just in the winter months?

fed_up_and_stressed

t0rt0ise wrote: »

Raynauds disorder would likely count as a disability under the Act so the employer is duty bound to make reasonable adjustments. What is reasonable would depend on the company and its size. A very small company would not be expected to do much whereas a multi national would have to do almost anything. So whether the cost of the heater is reasonable depends on the size of the company.

The OP should attend a meeting because it is likely that they are attempting to abide by the law and accommodate her as per the Act and if she doesn't go along with them they can't be held responsible for not providing adjustments.

This is correct, suggest the OP checks out whether she feels she meets the criteria of her condition having a long term substantial effect on her day to day activities as per the Equality Act and if she does then as per the above post the employer has to make reasonable adjustments.

Also worth pointing out though the law does state employers need to provide a "reasonable temperature" the Approved Code of Practice according to the HSE state 16 degrees .. Or 13 degrees if the work involves severe physical effort.

Good luck and let us know how your chat with the employer gets on. If you need any help re the Equality Act let me know.

dickydonkin

berbastrike wrote: »

12p per hour, 8 hours a day = £1 per day. £5 per week. £250 per year. If I was an employer, this is a lot of money

What you have not factored in is that a unhappy worker is not a productive one and to add to that, if the temperature exacerbates an existing condition that may result in a worker having to take time off work, then 12p per hour doesn't seem too bad to me.

And to question your calculations, I suspect that a heater won't be required out of the winter season so the cost you quoted would be way out.

Also, if the perception of an employee is that the boss just does not care, then I suspect in many such situations, the worker won't either.

I can understand why workers who are employed by such a company will come to work and do only what they have to do and not give that little bit extra or be flexible if required

It works both ways.

I can understand to some degree an employer trying to keep costs down but short term penny pinching solutions are not the answer and they should look at the bigger picture.

ValHaller

berbastrike wrote: »

12p per hour, 8 hours a day = £1 per day. £5 per week. £250 per year. If I was an employer, this is a lot of money

It is amazing the number of ordinary people who come on here and advocate a return to Dickensian workplaces.

sammyjammy

I would imagine its not an issue of money at all. A meeting has been requested to look at the issues so employer seems to be taking the issue seriously. They have to consider other members of staff and the affect any adjustments will have on them, if any. If OP is found to need a heater then this will either have to be electrically tested or supplied by the company

liney

I have similar issues so wear fingerless gloves and put my feet on a hot water bottle.

The problem is that some people are obviously too hot, so they are using the fans and opening the windows, so perhaps HR feels that removing the extra heaters will mean fans will no longer be need to be in use either. It is, they say, easier to warm up than cool down.

EmmaHerts

I haven't read all of this thread but wanted to let you know that you are able to buy typing gloves- I know normal gloves are annoying in the office!

Hope this helps.