Heaters being banned at work

maninthestreet

What is the actual temperature in the office? If other employees are using heaters as well, is the office temperature aboce the legal minimum?

tyllwyd

Is it an open plan office? If there was scope to move you to a small office which could be heated to a higher temperature, that might work. Or move you closer to a heater, or put up screens to block out draughts.

I can understand that a company would not want fans, open windows and heaters all running in the same office at the same time. Typing gloves and a halogen desk lamp sound like a great idea if that would work. And how about those little handwarmers that you put in the microwave - could you have something like that in your pocket and use them to warm up your hands at intervals?

jobbingmusician

The employer speaks.

Just my personal view, but as an employer in the voluntary sector (even more short of money than the average private sector workplace )

- if people bring heaters in, they may or may not be electrically safe. They might blow our entire ring system. They might catch fire (especially if they are absent-mindedly left on overnight, which regularly happened the last time our antiquated heating system broke down).

- I (OK, the charity) already pays once for the building to be heated, and cost IS an issue. I have worked in offices where the occupants thought it their right to wear t-shirts all year round and have the office heated to tropical heat.

- I do take seriously our responsibility to those with disabilities and other illnesses. (I am married to someone whose nerves simply do not fire, and who becomes totally paralysed, if he gets too cold, so I do have experience of this!)

In summary, it sounds as if this is model employer who has put a sensible rule in place and is actively looking to involve staff in seeking a solution for those who need higher temperatures!

System

We had a similar situation at a place I worked at last year (not involving somebody with a disability). They were forever adjusting the AC because people were saying they were too warm or too cold, with people opening windows to adjust the temperature in their area (open plan).

The outcome was that the employer locked all the windows (3rd floor so not fire exits) and then spent a week balancing the aircon. Result - everybody now happy and a constant comfortable temp throughout.

So the first thing that the employer needs to do is get rid of all heaters/fans et, close all the windows and balance the aircon. Once that is done then the majority should be happy and they will be in a position to deal with people such as the OP and maybe problem areas that are a heat/cold traps.