Summer is almost here and that means beach days, barbecues, cricket, balmy evening drinks with friends and……well, work.
While the summer months can bring about some of our favourite activities, it can make our working lives a little more difficult.
It can be hard for staff to concentrate in the sweltering conditions, especially when the hot weather is predicted to be ongoing for a few days.
Here are some tips to help you get through the heatwave:
“It’s too hot to work, you have to send us home!”
In this weather, you need to carry out a risk assessment. This should look at the environment, type of work being carried out and the impact on any staff with particular needs – such as a pregnant employee or someone with medical conditions. You should then address any issues. For example, could outside workers start earlier or later to avoid the midday sun?
Faced with employees arguing that wearing a low-cut dress and flipflops will keep them cool when it’s ‘too hot’?
It is definitely time to relax the dress code a little, but standards of decency must be maintained. We suggest casual, smart, loose-fitting clothing, and a temporary relaxing of suits and ties so that the company image is maintained. People do silly things in the sun, so watch out for staff failing to wear protective clothing to keep cool. It is not cool to land in the hospital! SPF 50+ sunscreen and appropriate PPE for those working outside, too.
Making the workplace more comfortable
Is your fan just another object in the office which blends in but remains untouched? Use it! Air flow is so important in keeping an area cool. Try keeping blinds closed and moving people away from direct sunlight. Have plenty of cold water available so staff remain hydrated. If you have air con, ensure it is set to an appropriate temperature taking into account the temperature outside. 23 degrees might be the ‘ideal’ temperature all year round, but it might need to be moved down a couple of notches on a 40 degree day.
Sickies?
Jumping to conclusions regarding an employee’s sickness absence on a hot sunny day could be unfair.
The warm weather can increase the risk of illness, especially sunstroke or hayfever. As we always recommend, you should carry out a return-to-work interview.
Small gestures can go a long way
Why not use the heat as an opportunity to boost morale? Simply buying your employees each an ice cream, or a cold soft drink at lunch could boost staff morale. Maybe look at letting staff knock off a little bit early. Giving them even half an hour every so often can be a fantastic yet easy motivational tool to have at hand.
Although some employees may believe a bit of sun relaxes the workplace rules, you still need to manage things consistently and fairly.
Require further support? The HR Dept is here to help. Contact your local office today.