Six in 10 want bosses to provide air conditioning when working from home

A study of 2,000 adults found 44 per cent struggle to keep on top of their work when the mercury soars, with four in 10 moving rooms to try and find a cooler spot to work.

A quarter of workers have even worked with the fridge or freezer door open in a bid to keep cool.

While four in 10 have simply refused to work when the heat has been too extreme – with respondents claiming a temperature of 28 degrees or above is too high for work.

As a result, 59 per cent think their employer should have to provide them with air conditioning at home, as working from home becomes the new normal.

The research was commissioned by Andrews Air Conditioning after it saw enquiries for domestic installations from businesses rise to a staggering 150 per cent.

The study also found more than half have ventured back into the office for a more temperate atmosphere when temperatures have risen.

But with Covid cases still high, nearly a third don’t feel comfortable working in the office – with one in six particularly worried when it’s busy.

More than half (53 per cent) of those who think bosses should provide air-conditioning put this down to the changes in the workplace due to the pandemic, with many unlikely to return to the office full-term.

A third of respondents have even put in a request with an employer – with a further one in five planning on doing so.

Nearly half were willing to contribute to the cost of having an air con unit to use at home – though 29 per cent didn’t believe that was necessary.

However, 32 per cent would rather ditch the air conditioning unit entirely and be given time off to enjoy the sun instead.

But of the four in 10 who don’t believe employers should have to provide air-con for those working from home, 69 per cent feel it’s not the responsibility of the firms to ensure their home isn’t too warm.

And 54 per cent simply don’t think the hot weather lasts long enough to justify such luxuries, according to the research carried out via OnePoll.

To see the full results head to https://www.andrews-sykes.com/blog/air-conditioning-working-from-home-survey/