Legal Working Temperature Cap Proposed as Third Heatwave Strikes the UK
- A petition on the UK Parliament website calls for a 25°C legal maximum temperature at work.
- The UK is currently experiencing its third major heatwave of 2026, with highs reaching 36°C.
- Existing 1992 regulations only require temperatures to be 'reasonable' without a legal limit.
- Trade unions and health officials have raised concerns about worker safety and NHS pressure.
- The petition needs 10,000 signatures for a government response and 100,000 for a debate.
A public petition calling for the UK government to introduce a statutory maximum working temperature has gained thousands of supporters during a period of intense heat. Created by Andrew Haddock and hosted on the UK Parliament website, the petition proposes a legally binding upper limit of 25°C for workplaces. As of 9 July 2026, the campaign had collected approximately 5,914 signatures as the public responds to rising summer temperatures.
The drive for new legislation coincides with the UK’s third major heatwave of the year. Following a record-breaking May with peaks of 35.1°C and a June 'heat dome' that reached 37.7°C in Norfolk, the Met Office has forecast temperatures as high as 36°C across parts of England in early July. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree stated that high pressure would keep temperatures elevated through much of the week, prolonging the impact on the workforce.
According to reports in The Mirror, the petition highlights a disparity in current employment law. While statutory guidance provides recommendations for minimum temperatures, there is no equivalent legal maximum cap. The existing Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 only stipulate that employers must maintain a 'reasonable' temperature, a term that campaigners argue is too vague to protect workers effectively during extreme heat events.
The movement has gained backing from several trade unions, including the TUC and Equity, which have long advocated for enforceable maximum temperature limits. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber and yellow heat health alerts through to 12 July 2026, reflecting the severity of the current conditions. Furthermore, NHS hospitals have reported operating under 'sustained pressure' as heat-related admissions increase across the country.
For the petition to receive an official response from the government, it must reach 10,000 signatures. Should it reach 100,000 signatures before its closing date on 19 December 2026, it will be considered for debate in Parliament. A separate petition by James Fisher also calls for a national heat resilience strategy to address similar concerns regarding indoor temperatures and safety.
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said, "Understanding your rights regarding workplace comfort is essential for maintaining health and safety during these recurring periods of extreme heat."
There are some road works outside our property so my husband asked them if they would like some chilled drinks. They showed him their vans with fridges. This seems good that Openreach look after their staff.
Petition: Create a legally enforceable maximum working temperature
Introduce a legally binding maximum working temperature of 25°C for all workplaces, covering both indoor and outdoor jobs. Currently, there is an advisory minimum temperature in statutory guidance but no upper limit. We want the Government to change this by introducing a strict 25°C maximum cap.
I'm not saying its not morally right but of course it will introduce huge costs to businesses and more again will close. You can't just keep adding costs to businesses without a huge negative effect. I can see both sides here but really we need low cost solutions to this like more casual summer clothing allowed and perhaps allowance for personal fans in the workplace you can just expect a business for example to find thousands of pounds for a full air conditioning system.
Every time we get hot weather this idea gets brought up and it never seems to get passed. I don't know how I feel about it all really as being a staff member who has worked in extreme heat, it isn't nice at all and also a little embarrassing to be walking round in sweaty clothes. On the other hand it would be chaos if everywhere just closed because it was too hot.
This is where we are at a disadvantage compared to more traditional hot countries, over there they build everything with air con whereas here a lot of places don't have it.