Official guidance on maximum office temperatures as health alert issued across UK

For readers currently living outside the realms of the UK, please, if you can, send help.

And by 'help', we mean electric fans, air conditioning units, ice lollies and paddling pools filled with extremely chilled water because we're all - quite frankly - melting.

And while temperatures ranging between 21-31 degrees might not seem, for foreign readers, extreme enough to complain about, on this typically dull and dreary island of ours, we're simply not used to it, meaning the 'mini heatwave' we're currently enduring has knocked us all for six.

So much so, that many of us office employees are currently sat marinating in our own sweat, wondering how it could possibly be legal to work in an office in these horrific conditions.

And apparently, it's a totally valid question, because there's actually much debate surrounding this issue, with many arguing that there should be a temperature declared that - if reached - can result in workers being sent home.

UK workers have wondered if there's a legal maximum office temperature. (Sean De Burca/Getty)

What does this week's 'mini heatwave' mean for Brits?

On Monday this week (24 June), UK dwellers were issued a warning that parts of England were expected to hit staggering temperatures, with a 'Yellow Health-alert' handed out by the UK Health Security Agency and Met Office also hitting the headlines.

For those unfamiliar with the various categories and what is expected in terms of action, a 'Yellow Heat' alert is issued during periods of heat which would mainly impact people who are vulnerable.

Those living in the East Midlands, the East of England, East Anglia and the South East were issued the most severe warnings earlier this week, with 'potential for significant impacts to be observed across the health and social care sector due to the high temperatures' being expected.

These impacts were expected to be 'an observed increase in mortality across the population likely, particularly in the 65+ age group or those with health conditions, but impacts may also be seen in younger age groups'.

Government guidance says employers should ensure comfortable working conditions for their staff. (Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd)

But with UK office workers often ranging from early-twenties to mid-sixties nowadays, we've all been wondering whether coming into an office this week can actually prove detrimental to our wellbeing.

Is there a maximum workplace temperature?

Sadly, however, there is no maximum or minimum working temperature outlined by the British government as of yet.

Official guidance - according to the gov.uk website - recommends a minimum temperature of 13-16 degrees if employees are carrying out physical work.

Frustratingly, though, there is no maximum temperature outlined.

The Health and Safety Executive explains: "No meaningful upper limit can be imposed because in many indoor workplaces high temperatures are not seasonal but created by work activity, for example in bakeries or foundries."

That said, the government dictates that employers must abide by laws surrounding health and safety in the workplace, by keeping the temperature at a comfortable level and providing clean, fresh air for their staff.

The website also encourages workers who are uncomfortable in their working environments to raise the issue with their employer.