UK law does not state how warm a workplace has to be for employees – London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

As the country prepares for another icy weather blast this week, the public has been told there is no legal temperature bosses have to provide them to go to work.

Sub-zero temperatures and more snow are expected across the country after a weekend of amber warnings for snow and icy rain.

But flexible office experts Office Freedom warn that there is currently no law in the UK which states bosses have to provide a working environment above a certain temperature – meaning some may have to work wearing winter woollies across the country this week.

Instead, the only protection for workers comes under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations which provide advisory guidelines for firms.

That states that employers should provide a ‘reasonable’ indoor temperature, with common practice making that 16C (60.8 Fahrenheit).

In light of this, Office Freedom spoke to psychological expert Darren Stanton to explore how the weather can affect us mentally and why we might find it challenging to stay motivated during bad weather:

“People’s reactions to the weather are usually affected by several factors, but the most important factor is light. When it’s light outside we produce the feel-good chemical serotonin. By comparison, when it’s dark we get extra secretions of melatonin, creating an imbalance.

“To counteract this, it’s important to stick to a routine, keep active, and meet up with friends. The worst thing to do is have duvet days because this will only make you feel worse.”