Workplace Temperatures

In the UK, employers are required to ensure that workplace temperatures are reasonable and comfortable for employees.

Whilst there is no law for temperatures in the workplace, the Health and Safety Executive recommends a minimum temperature of 16°C for sedentary work, such as office-based roles, and 13°C for strenuous work, such as physical labor.

To protect workers from extreme temperatures, measures can be implemented such as providing air conditioning, fans, or portable heaters, as well as allowing flexible working arrangements or extra breaks during periods of extreme heat or cold.

In some workplaces such as manufacturing, it can be difficult to regulate the temperature.  When this is the case having an open door policy for all employees to discuss issues can lead to a suitable solution for all.