Employers are urged to cool down their offices and their staff

With the UK in the grip of a heat-wave and temperatures soaring to 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit), a workers rights group called on employers to relax office dress codes and cool down their employees.

The UK’s national trade union centre, the TUC, is hoping most employers will take a more relaxed approach to office attire— with jackets and ties out, and short sleeves, vest tops and shorts in. The trade union thinks employers will get more out of their workers if they do so.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: 'Allowing employees to dress down in the current heat-wave will prevent them from collapsing at their desks, and could also save companies money as they are able to turn down the air con a notch.'

“Allowing employees to dress down in the current heat-wave will prevent them from collapsing at their desks, and could also save companies money.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber

'Employers have got to remember that it's no fun working in a baking office or factory and they should be doing all they can to take the temperatures down.’

Employees are not expected to work when the temperature drops below 16OC but there are no similar restrictions for when the workplace becomes too hot.