Workplace sickness will surely increase wont it

[Friedbacon35]

With ever increasing termps aibu to think workplace sickness might spike in summer in future

I feel like I can barely do my job during the hottest part of the day felt like going to pass out

There needs to be legal maximum temp where you can just leave work

But it’s a real question!!

I went for a walk!! Every day! I adored it. But then again I'm a winter bunny and quite enjoy the cooler months.

I worked in an extremely hot country. They dealt with the heat by both working 0600-1330, and having Aircon. I imagine if summers like this become the norm similar will need to happen here.

The Aircon broke in the office once and they sent us home within less than an hour as it couldn't be fixed until the next day and even in that short time it was dangerously hot in there, over 40 degrees.

Hold on though, this is a perfectly reasonable question from @Brokene 😳

I'm not sure why you'd reply like that and then leave the thread you started, with no discussion?

i think there is a discussion to be had about maximum working temperatures for those workplaces where it is practical. Potentially for a right to work from home in red warning areas unless the employer can give a good reason that it cannot be accommodated. Maybe same regarding dress code, including for schools except that it needs not to be offensive.

Of course this would leave a lot of workers out, but is there a reason that no workers should benefit because it cannot be extended to everyone?

Other work places again unless good reason could there be mandatory longer breaks. Obviously not work for many, but might for part of the day. So not for a surgeon actually operating but may for clinics if the surgeon wants it.

Hospitals, schools and if possible other essential workers should have air conditioning and that should be standard for these when new or on renovation.

That doesn’t mean everyone should suffer though. If you go into a medical role you already know the working conditions are bad

Always one what? One person who asks a totally reasonable question?

Just say you don’t have an answer instead of trying to incite a pile on on her because she asked a question you don’t want to answer.

Or medical premises could have air conditioning.

I was in two hospitals and a GP surgery last week, all had air conditioning.

Thats a better aim than telling medical staff ‘you know what you signed up for so suck it up’.

I came on here to write the same thing. Whether there will need to be a change in working patterns and more aircon in hospitals and schools and transport where patterns can't be changed?

My classroom does not have opening windows. There is no working ventilation. We get on with it but it’s a pretty vile working environment and children are not great at drinking, even when you stand over them. We had a child develop sunstroke during the heat wave in June. There are no affordable answers. There’s no money for air con to be installed in schools.

I say everyone should be obliged to work, go to school etc. at night when temps recede and full sun is not an issue. Where that is not possible aircon should be mandatory by law. 😊

OK, OK, a bit of a stretch there, but I'd do that if I could!

I'm not sure a max temp would work but certainly some more regulations around keeping employees safe and comfortable in such weather are needed. Extra breaks, changes to hours if possible, cold water always available, fans provided, maybe if the temp remains above a certain level for so many days a year a commitment for the company/building owners to install shutters or air con within in a set number of years two they have time to work out finances. There would always have to be exemptions though.

Great yeah, I’ll just tell my students not to bother because it’s too hot and I cba coming in then… The country is nuts. Gets too hot and everyone shuts down, too cold everyone shuts down. We live in a volatile environment, the temperature and weather conditions shift around a lot. We just need to be a bit hardier and get on with it.

Very sensible. ... but the UK won't prepare for this.

I wish everyone good luck 😂

You simply cannot regulate the temperature for all workers. There will be some whose roles mean they have to work in the heat.

Also, who will pay for all this air con?

we can manage with minimum temperatures so why not maximum?
if the heating breaks you would have to get in portable heaters. The same could be done with portable air conditioning units in the future - just not without a few years notice because currently they can’t be had for love nor money.
And since nobody wants to spend money on that, there would be an incentive for employers to install all the cheaper (and less power hungry) measures like ventilation and effective shading of windows.

Hopefully we get a max temp. I remember grilling steaks at spoons in 45 degree heat and we had to rotate time in the walk in freezer. Bloody awful. I understand some jobs need to keep going no matter what, but I don’t think kitchen work falls under that. Businesses need to prepare and invest for hotter summers.

In intl companies were already having conversations about how the working day will change over the next 10yrs in some locations. There are countries impacted to a far greater extent than the UK (assuming that’s where you are). If anything changes in the UK, we’re likely to follow, not lead.

Agree! Schools too can we just walk and leave the kids to fend for themselves? Parents have already been up in arms where schools and childminders have closed due to the heat.

We don’t need to be hardier, we need to adapt intelligently and stop spending £££ on buildings that are designed to be ovens in heatwaves with no provision for ventilation.

More than one!
What about the health and education services? Sewer companies /catering staff /public transport etc etc etc etc
Would you propose them being suspended?
PLEASE

People still go to work in Dubai in August. They just have good AC

I don't think there will be any legislation passed. Could you imagine the impact on GDP? I used to work as a chef, the kitchen got above 45 degrees a few times in a past heatwave. What about those working outdoors? Schools, hospital... the whole country would grind to a halt.

If you're not safe to practice, then yes, of course, otherwise the consequences could be terrible.

The problem is, some people really can't function while others can. What is a reasonable threshold? For some, it might 30, for others 35. My train and office has air con, thankfully, so I think it would be a bit cheeky for us to down tools because just because we can, when our working conditions are perfectly reasonable. I don't think a blanket approach will work and people should be encouraged to be sensible.

Yeah we should just be able to turn up to work when we feel like it, sure the place will all just run without us and we wont be affected in our own lives by others just turning up when they feel like it

All sounds logical