As long as I didn’t expressly allow my employer (McDonald’s) to put me in a 4000 degree room where I shall cook and run around crazily, is there a maximum temperature I can be made to work at? Our air conditioner doesn’t work, and it regularly reaches at least 85-90 degrees everywhere in the store… horrible in the kitchen. McDonald’s, however, won’t let us wear shorts or roll up our pant legs. They haven’t gotten the airconditioner fixed. We have one fan, oh, about 1.5 feet diameter, twenty feet from the grill, with an equipment rack in its way. Is there anything I can do about this?
Surprisingly enough, it looks like OSHA doesn’t currently have a standard for heat stress.
Beyond quitting, I don’t know. I just wanted to let you know that your post brought back horrible horrible memories. If you feel that McDonalds is treating you badly, doesn’t give a rat’s ass about you, and will fuck you as hard as you let them, you are right.
I taught for many years in a classroom with 30 or so other people – each putting out the heat of a 100 watt bulb. No air-conditioning. No fan. And during August the temps outside were over 100 degrees and the humidity was unbearable. (I’m certain that it was ten degrees warmer inside.)
So I sympathize totally.
I can’t imagine what it must be like where there is hot food preparation going on.
I would be tempted to call OSHA anyway – and the regional McDonald’s office.
I worked for about a year and a half in Glass Units, the part of GM’s Guide division that made sealed beam headlights. It was often 125 degrees F. As a celebrated existentialist said, humans can adapt to some really awful conditions. (His example, if I remember, was adapting living in a foot-square area.)
I could throw out some worse examples, to no good result. The point is, you make your own decisions. Is it worse to have no income, or to put up with dreadful work conditions? We cannot answer that for you.
Be strong, and never trade your health for money. Not ever. :smack:
If it bothers you that much, quit.
85-90 Really isn’t that hot. But hey if bothers you move on.