As temperatures rise across the UK, employers are increasingly facing a pressing question: at what point does hot weather make working conditions unsafe?
Chloe Grant, Associate at Bellevue Law, comments in this week’s Legal Diary,
“At what point is it simply too hot to work? UK law doesn’t set a maximum workplace temperature, but employers must provide a working environment that’s safe and without risk to health. Very high temperatures can affect people’s ability to work safely and effectively, and employers need to be ready to respond when the mercury rises.”
In practice, managing workplace heat is less about strict thresholds and more about taking reasonable, practical steps to mitigate risk. Chloe highlights the importance of common-sense adjustments that can make a meaningful difference to employee wellbeing and productivity.
“The most effective responses are often those grounded in common sense. Practical steps like adjusting start and finish times, relaxing dress codes, investing in air conditioning facilities and/or enabling remote working where possible may help to ease the immediate impact.”
Equally important is empowering managers to respond flexibly to the unique circumstances of their teams.
“Just as important is giving managers sufficient discretion to respond sensibly to local conditions and individual circumstances. And an ice cream for the team is never a bad thing for morale!”
While employees are likely to be understanding where operational demands limit flexibility, Chloe warns that slow or overly rigid responses can quickly undermine engagement.
“Employers can’t help the weather, of course, and employees are likely to understand operational constraints; but they will also notice when businesses are slow to respond or overly rigid. Even small, proportionate adjustments can go a long way in maintaining engagement and signalling that wellbeing is being taken seriously.”
Looking ahead, the issue is unlikely to fade. Periods of extreme heat are becoming more frequent, meaning employers need to adopt a longer-term mindset rather than treating each heatwave as a one-off disruption.
“This is also a glimpse of what is to come. Periods of extreme heat are becoming part of the UK’s working reality rather than an occasional disruption. Employers who continue to treat heatwaves as exceptional may find themselves repeatedly on the back foot, while those who build flexibility into their approach should be better placed to support their people and sustain performance.”
For employers, the takeaway is clear: proactive, flexible and human-centred responses are key to navigating a hotter working world.
