Can you keep your kids out of school or refuse to work during a heat wave?

In the UK there is no rule that a certain temperature is too hot or too cold to work.

But Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)., External It says employers must adhere to health and safety at work rules, which include maintaining a “comfortable” temperature and “providing clean and fresh air”.

Workplace advice group Acas said: “Except in extreme circumstances, employees should usually abide by their contract and find a comfortable and safe way of working with their employer.”

Niall McKenzie, chief executive of Acas, said it was often a “last resort in extreme circumstances” if a workplace had to close or a worker was unable to travel or work because of the heat.

“Such a decision should only be made where there are no alternative options and it should be discussed openly and in good time,” he said, adding that employers should be flexible and consider relaxing rules where possible.

Last month The Committee on Climate Change (CCCC) stated. As heat waves increase due to climate change, the UK should introduce maximum temperatures for workplaces to protect people.

In colder climates, the HSE says the minimum temperature for an indoor workplace should be at least 16C – or 13C if the work is “intense physical exertion”.