Relaxed dress codes, avoiding ‘adult sitting’ and ice lollies have been the order of the day as advisers cope with sweltering heat and are preparing for even more next week.
With the Met Office issuing its first ever Red warning for exceptional heat affecting a large part of England early next week and temperatures already bursting through the 30°c barrier this week, Health & Protection spoke to advisers to find out how they are adapting their work practices.
“We are very lucky to have air conditioning in our office so it’s cooler in here than it is outside,” Alan Knowles, co-managing director at Cura Financial Services, told Health & Protection.
“And looking around the office, everyone is in shorts, t-shirts or dresses. All of our appointments are remote too and staff are welcome to be at home or in the office. Of course for those in the office a round of ice-lollies midday is a must.”
While for Alan Lakey, owner of CI Expert, (pictured) all of his staff are home-based and the firm operates a relaxed dress code policy where t-shirts and jeans are allowed.
“We have fans and a noisy air conditioner but with two or three windows open we manage okay,” Lakey said.
“The day is often interspersed with a visit for an ice-cold drink. Luckily, Berkhamsted is generally four or five degrees cooler than concrete London.”
Remote working comes into its own
Isaac Feiner, owner of Lifepoint Healthcare, said operating a remote business really comes into its own during weeks like this.
“Although it is nice to meet people we can still be much more productive and make better use of our time to have phone or virtual meetings. For the time it takes for one meeting in the City I can have six at home,” he said.
“Staff can do as they see fit as we don’t measure where and how they work. If they need to take off they can. We are all responsible adults and serve a greater good. We don’t ‘adult sit’ here.
“Our primary concern is that our core values are being lived and clients are being looked after and we are achieving our personal and corporate objectives. And they can of course wear what they want.”
But spare a thought for Stephen Ellis, associate director at Prosperis in Leeds where it was raining when Health & Protection caught up with him.
“What hot weather? It’s raining in Leeds at moment,” Ellis said.
“Assuming this is a blip, and we return to the heatwave, it’s very much business as usual as we have air-conditioned offices and generally always dress to suit the weather.”