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Are heatwaves making you revisit (or revamp) where you work?

ended 10. July 2026

We're now in the third, most extended heatwave of the year. We're writing an article this morning on whether heatwaves are causing small business owners without aircon to either consider moving to an office that has it, or are installing aircon of their own (or asking/pressuring their landlord to do so). Also keen to know whether, if your office has aircon, more staff are coming in on the hottest days? Lastly, one for the HRs and recruiters — is aircon is now being treated as a perk by some companies? Any thoughts, ASAP please. If you reply, your business will be mentioned in the piece.
 

2 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Samuel Mather-Holgate
Managing Director & IFA at Mather and Murray Financial
Aircon used to be seen as a luxury, now it’s a necessity. On the hottest days, an office without proper cooling becomes less a workplace and more a productivity tax- staff are tired, clients are uncomfortable, and basic tasks take longer. For small firms, relocating is expensive, so many will first push landlords for upgrades or look at portable fixes, but the direction of travel is clear. If hybrid working taught employers anything, it is that people will only come in when the office offers something better than home. In a heatwave, reliable aircon is not a vanity perk, it is part of making the office usable. Employers who can offer a cool, comfortable workspace may well see attendance rise when homes, trains and high streets are baking
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Premium
Daniel Wiltshire
Actuary & IFA at Wiltshire Wealth
I don't have air conditioning in the office, and it can get really hot around 4pm when the sun comes around. At that point, I either finish work early or head to the café next door, where I'll order an iced coffee and work from there. As a small business owner, it's at the lower end of a long list of minor crises you get used to dealing with every day.