The beast from the East - what does the law say about working in low temperatures?

From the most northerly points of the UK to the beaches of Brighton, snow has been making a rare appearance in the UK, leading to cancelled trains and closed schools. But in a country where snow on the ground is a rarity, what exactly are your work rights when the big freeze sets in?

All workplaces should have a “reasonable” temperature, and if your office temperature drops below 16c, then your workplace could be in breach of 1999 Workplace Regulations. If this does happen, its up to your employer to bring the temperature back up again.

The exception is for workplaces where employees are doing lots of physical activities - for these places, the minimum temperature is 13C.

According to worksmart, if your heating breaks in the office, and you find yourself in temperatures below 16C, you can go home without the risk of losing pay.

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