We experienced a heatwave in Europe and the United States a few summers ago. This may be fine for some businesses. However, your business and your employees might not be.
If your office building or home office gets too hot, you may have to send staff home. Heatwaves are not significant for business, so what can you do to keep everything running as smoothly as possible?
Learn how your business survives the coming heatwave with the following tips.
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Relax The Dress Code During Summer Months
If you currently have a suit-only dress code, then you may want to rethink this. It is far too hot during this summer heatwave to come to work in a full suit.
If you insist on your staff dressing smart, then recommend they come in something more extraordinary. In the past few years, business attire has become more relaxed.
This could be a shirt only with smart trousers or skirts, which works just as well as a full suit. Even if you work from home, you will want to dress less.
Let Employees Leave Early During High Temperatures
If the weather outside becomes too unbearable, then give your staff the opportunity to leave. Keep in mind the staff who have to use public transport to get home in the heat, that is not fun at all.
Believe it or not, there is no upper limit set by law for when you have to send staff home.
There is a lower limit, but no higher one; perhaps they will rethink that soon if the hot weather continues year after year.
Provide Access to Water During Summer Heatwave
Ensure your staff always have access to water. It is common for staff members to leave their water bottles at home, especially if they are in the freezer. Perhaps you could invest in a water machine with reusable cups.
If staff don’t have access to cold water, they may suffer from dehydration. This will lower their productivity and your business’s bottom line.
You want to be sure your employees or freelancers are happy and healthy to achieve peak performance.
Look After The Office Plants and Gardens
If your business comes complete with beautiful plants, you will need to maintain them and ensure they always look their best. You may have a gardener who does this for you, or you may do it yourself to save money.
There is one thing you can do that is much better for not only your business but also the planet, and that is investing in rainwater tanks.
These tanks will do precisely that: fill with rainwater, and you can use it for your garden rather than using hosepipes or watering cans all the time.
Did you know that plants also stabilize humidity levels? Indoor plants have also been shown to reduce symptoms of “sick building syndrome” (SBS).
Keeping them refreshed is another benefit for you and your employees.
Turn Off Technology During The Heatwave This Summer
Finally, technology can make the surrounding areas increasingly hot, so hot that it becomes unbearable to work or concentrate. If any computers don’t get used, turn them off. This not only saves energy consumption but also prevents the office from overheating.
You and your staff will thank you for it. You could also remind staff to turn off monitors at the end of the day, which will help keep the office cooler overnight. Lastly, remember to prepare your business for winter at the end of summer as well.
Conclusion: Surviving Heatwaves at Your Business
Heatwave-proofing your business comes down to a few practical moves you can set now, before the subsequent spike in temps hits your sales, staff, or gear.
Keep your space safe and usable with AC checks, clean filters, fans, shade, and backup plans for power (even a small generator or battery setup for key devices). Protect your team with clear heat rules, more water breaks, lighter uniforms when possible, and earlier or later shifts to dodge peak heat.
Keep customers in the loop with simple updates on hours, pickup options, and service changes, then write it all down in a one-page heat plan so you can act fast when warnings pop up.
When you treat extreme heat like any other business risk, you stay open, maintain quality, and avoid expensive last-minute fixes.
