Unless you’re lucky enough to work in that rare thing that is an air conditioned or airy office in the UK, then you probably don’t relish a day of graft in an ongoing heatwave. Let’s face it, for some of us, it doesn’t even need to be a heatwave to make work unbearably sticky; it just needs to be summer in Britain. So how do those of us in hot working conditions deal with the heat? There are no official upper levels when it comes to a legal maximum temperature, although the regulations state that employers must legally provide employees with a “reasonable” temperature in the workplace. While they endeavour to do that in the real world, what can we do for ourselves to make our working day more pleasurable? Here’s four very simple and easily implemented ways to get through without losing your cool too much. Dress in Less Ditch the three piece suit and put on clothes that are more suitable. Opt for lighter and more breathable fabrics - but also keep in mind that natural fibres like linen and cotton absorb perspiration, helping you to feel cooler, while synthetic fabrics trap heat. Hydration for the Nation Make sure you drink plenty of water. And we mean MUCH more than you normally would. You’ll be perspiring more than usual, which means you dehydrate more quickly. Avoid coffee and tea, which can increase the heart rate and subsequently your blood flow, causing your body temperature to rise. Stick to cool or ice-cold water if you can. Fans and Windows If you aren’t luxuriating in wafts of crispy cool airconditioned air, then at least get the air moving as much as possible by opening all windows and/or using fans. You can pick up decent desktop fans for reasonable sums and even USB powered ones that plug into your laptop. Floor standing fans and even large industrial ones don’t cost a fortune, so ask your boss if you don’t already have them. Avoid large lunches Food comas won’t help you one bit. Eating too much at lunch, or any other meals, means your metabolism has to work much harder to digest it all, and that increases your temperature. Therefore eating lighter bites is not only better for your health, but also for your sweaty brow. Above all else, remember that this is the UK and the heatwave won’t last for too long. Soon enough we’ll all be kicking at fallen autumn leaves and moaning about how cold it is; wishing once again for hazy, lazy summer days. In the meantime, we’ll see you down the pub after work for a cool one! We may not be able to control the weather, but we can probably help you find a cooler job. Search our jobs now or contact us for a chat. https://www.evergoodassociates.co.uk/jobs/
Thursday Aug 2, 2018
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