Hot weather over the next few days could result in lost productivity worth up to £162 million, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research*.
Economists also say that productivity could drop by up to a third as staff take unauthorised days off sick to enjoy the sun. Hundreds of thousands are expected to have taken at least one "sick day" by the end of this week, warns Glenn Jaques, an employment law specialist Wake Smith.
With hot summer temperatures in Yorkshire reaching over 30 degrees Celsius, both employees and employers are becoming increasingly concerned about keeping the temperature down in the work place. In the absence of air conditioning workers have often had to endure stifling hot temperatures in the work place so far this summer.
The maximum limit for temperature in the workplace is often explored by dutiful employers on hot days as Glenn Jaques explains: "The EU Work Place Directive states that the work place temperatures must be 'adequate for human beings, having regard to the working methods being used and the physical demands placed on workers'. Surprisingly, in the UK (perhaps because we are not used to soaring temperatures) no upper limit is set by Regulation.
"However the UK Health & Safety Executive Guidance indicates that 30 degrees is the upper limit for workers carrying out sedentary activities. This temperature will probably have been easily exceeded in many work places in the absence of air conditioning during the current heat wave we are currently experiencing.
"Employers have a general duty to protect employees from sun light, to install fans and to make cold drinks available. This will help to keep a happy workforce and perhaps most importantly, maintain productivity."
Throughout Europe, Health & Safety Law in general specifies minimum working temperatures but they often fail to specify an upper limit. In Germany the normal upper limit is 26C but employers are only obliged to keep indoor working temperatures 6C below outside temperatures, so if outside temperatures climb beyond 32C, the upper indoor limit would also rise. In practice temperature limits in German work places are subject to consultation with Work Councils and in hot weather employers would seek their views when problems arise.
Belgium is one of the few countries to set clear, legally enforceable, upper limits to work place temperatures. These range from 25C for heavy work to 26.7C for semi-heavy work and 30C for light work.
For further information please contact Mark Serby at [email protected] or on 01142666660.
