Businesses raise concerns over hot workplace bill

Businesses in West Yorkshire have raised concerns over a private members bill to introduce maximum workplace temperatures. If passed, the legislation would set up an independent body to make recommendations to the government so that workplaces are safe for employees, including changing working hours or being able to work from home.

Jin Chu, who runs a tearoom in Wetherby says she understands the bill's intention, but that adapting her employees working hours could lose her money.

"If we had to close for one day because of the heat, the minimum day for running is £1,000.

"Add the staff wages we'd still pay, that's altogether £2,000 gone."

The Labour MP for Leeds Central and Headingley Alex Sobel supports the bill.

He says a lot of businesses "aren't set up for the really hot weather" and that the legislation would allow people to "work at their best".

After installing an aircon system in her previous premises during last year's heatwave, Jin decided to do the same at her Bel Sourire tearoom and says they could not survive without it.

"Its purpose is to provide a nicer experience for the customers and staff," she says.

"We have four aircon systems installed here, and it keeps us cool, but it comes with a big financial cost."

In Headingly, Gagan Chera and her husband opened their frozen yoghurt shop Kefiyo earlier this year and thinks introducing a maximum workplace temperature is not the right way to help businesses.

"Instead, the government should be helping us improve our properties to deal with the hot weather," she says.

"It's been crazy busy for us, and our building is not built for this kind of heat.

"We tried to get an AC unit, but we had to go through the council and get planning permission, and that would take too long."

The UK currently does not have any laws around workplace temperatures, however government workplace regulations do state that all employers should keep indoor work areas at a "reasonable" temperature.

Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), says employers must stick to the health and safety at work law, which includes keeping temperatures at a "comfortable" level, and "providing clean and fresh air".

Those who back the bill say that does not go far enough, and the UK should instead follow countries like Spain which already imposes a maximum work temperature of 27C for sedentary office work and 25C for light physical labour.

The bill was introduced by Green Party MP Hannah Spence in July and is due to have its second reading in October.

Unison and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have also called for a maximum indoor work temperature of 30C, or 27C for strenuous work.

Sobel says the bill would help improve people's health.

"If we don't do this people will go off sick because of the heat, and so this bill will ensure a more productive workplace, and businesses should welcome this."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.