UK heatwave | Cut your staff some slack if they're struggling in this September's sudden hot weather

Just when you thought it was time to get out the scarves, slippers and cardigans, the UK has been hit by a heatwave in early September.

And with the soaring temperatures might come a dip - or perceived dip - in productivity. However, if you're expecting to see staff struggling or already are noticing it, you need to cut them some slack rather than making huge demands. 

While your instinct might be to wonder whether staff will 'go slow' in the heat, the flipside of that is the impact of the heatwave on employee wellbeing, as well as productivity.

What's the law when the heat is on?

Emma Tice, head of Employment Law at leading HR firm Precept, says that although the UK has no current legislation on minimum and maximum temperatures in the workplace, employees can ask for reasonable mitigation techniques to make working more bearable. She said: “All predictions are that this intense heat is here to stay on a regular basis with the Met Office records showing that all of the UK’s 10 warmest years have occurred in the last two decades. And whilst we often hear people asking if the temperature reaches more than 30C, are they entitled to the day off, the simple answer is ‘no’.