Some health conditions allow you to work from home in hot weather – full list

Employers have a legal obligation to protect the safety of their workers

People with some health conditions have to be allowed to work from home if their work environment is going to be too hot during warm weather, according to UK law. The UK is set to experience temperatures of up to 30C over the bank holiday weekend, with parts of the UK forecast to be hotter than some popular Greek holiday destinations, meteorologists have said.

The Met Office said the country could experience its warmest day of the year so far as a heatwave develops over the coming days. Forecaster Tom Morgan said there was a 40% chance temperatures could climb to 33C in parts of southern England on Sunday, which could make it the warmest May day on record.

The current May temperature record stands at 32.8C, recorded in Camden Square, London, in 1922. Any temperature above 29.4C will be the warmest May temperature recorded in the UK since 2012, the Met Office said.

Temperatures in the UK are expected to exceed those forecast in Mediterranean hotspots including Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini over the weekend. As the heat builds, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued heat health alerts covering much of the Midlands, eastern England and south-east England.

Temperatures are expected to reach 28C in parts of England on Friday before climbing above 30C across several areas over the following three days, Mr Morgan said. Wales could also meet heatwave criteria by Sunday, while parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland are forecast to see temperatures reaching the mid-20s by next week.

Michelle Taylor, Health, Safety & Fire Service Director at HR, employment and health and safety specialists Citation, said: “There is currently no legal maximum workplace temperature in the UK. This means employers are not legally required to send staff home once a certain temperature is reached.

“Under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, a minimum working temperature is specified, 16°C for most indoor work and 13°C for strenuous physical activity, but no equivalent upper limit exists. Despite this, employers are required to take reasonable and practicable steps to ensure workplaces are a comfortable temperature.”

She added: “Under UK law, workers with health conditions that may be exacerbated by extreme heat must be protected in several ways. Where a condition meets the definition of a disability under the Equality Act 2010, employers are under a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments. This could apply to a wide range of conditions, including (but not limited to) those affecting the skin, heart or respiratory system or long-term health conditions.

“This includes pregnant women, those who suffer from arthritis or COPD where high and low working temperatures can make it more difficult to work.

“In this instance, these individuals may need to complete an individual risk assessment, take additional breaks, be allowed to work from home, and have work shifts during cooler times of the day.”

Michelle said: “Employers have a general duty under health and safety law to take reasonably practicable steps to protect employees’ health and safety. This includes assessing and mitigating risks associated with extreme temperatures. That means carrying out appropriate risk assessments and considering how heat could impact staff wellbeing and performance.

“Practical steps include relaxing dress codes where appropriate, ensuring good ventilation or air conditioning, and installing a desk fan if needed. Making sure staff have easy access to drinking water through bottled water or a filtered water system. Rescheduling working shifts to cooler times of the day or even re-positioning desks so they’re not in direct sunlight.

“For those who work outside, this may include more frequent rotations so individuals aren’t working outside for too long, easy access to drinking water and slower working rates.

Flexible working arrangements can also make a real difference – for example, adjusting start and finish times so employees can avoid travelling or working during the hottest parts of the day should also be considered.”

While there is no “too hot to work” temperature limit, employers are bound by three main pieces of legislation during a heatwave:

• The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992: This states that during working hours, the temperature inside workplace buildings must be “reasonable.” What is reasonable depends on the nature of the work (e.g., an office vs. a bakery).
• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974: Employers have a general “duty of care” to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all staff. ^{If the heat poses a risk to your health, they must mitigate it.}
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: Employers must carry out risk assessments . ^{When extreme heat is forecast, they must assess how it impacts vulnerable workers.}
• The Equality Act 2010: This is the most crucial law for health conditions. If a medical condition qualifies as a disability (a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial, long-term adverse effect on your ability to do normal daily activities), the employer is legally required to make “reasonable adjustments.” Allowing an employee to work from home to avoid a blistering commute or an overheated office is a classic example of a reasonable adjustment.

Under Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 , workers have the right to leave a workplace (or refuse to attend) if they reasonably believe there is a “serious and imminent danger” to their health. ^{However, this is a high legal bar and usually applies to severe heat exhaustion risks rather than general discomfort.}

Health Conditions Affected by Hot Weather

If an employee has a condition that worsens significantly in the heat, an employer must account for this in their risk assessment. ^{If the workplace cannot be sufficiently cooled (e.g., lack of air conditioning), working from home may be the only safe solution.}

The conditions most commonly impacted include:

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Conditions

• Asthma and COPD: Hot, humid weather lowers air quality and triggers breathing difficulties.
• Heart Conditions: The body has to work much harder to pump blood and cool down in high temperatures, placing dangerous strain on the heart.

Autoimmune and Neurological Conditions

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Many people with MS experience “Uhthoff’s phenomenon,” where even a small increase in body temperature causes a temporary worsening of neurological symptoms (like blurred vision or extreme fatigue).
• Lupus and Fibromyalgia: Heat can trigger severe symptom flare-ups, joint pain, and exhaustion.

Endocrine and Metabolic Conditions

• Diabetes: Dehydration affects blood sugar levels, and extreme heat changes how the body absorbs insulin.

Pregnancy and Mental Health

• Pregnancy: By law, employers must conduct specific risk assessments for pregnant or breastfeeding workers. ^{Pregnant individuals are highly susceptible to heat exhaustion and fainting.}
• Mental Health Conditions: Certain medications for depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia interfere with the body’s ability to regulate its own temperature or increase sensitivity to sunlight.

What Should You Do?

If you have a health condition and are struggling in the heat, the legal pathway is to request a reasonable adjustment or a temporary risk assessment .

1. Speak to your GP/Specialist: Get a note explaining how the heat impacts your specific condition and recommending working from home during high temperatures.
2. Formally Request an Assessment: Ask your HR department or manager for an individual health and safety risk assessment regarding the weather.
3. Propose the Solution: Frame working from home as a practical, temporary measure to keep you safe and productive until the heatwave passes.