Britain's Heatwave Is Quietly Changing the Rules of Work Amid a £1.2 Billion Productivity Hit

Building sites are shifting to dawn starts to beat the worst of the heat, one of the few legal tools employers have. (Image is AI-generated) (Credit: IBTimes UK)

Britain is heading for its hottest June day on record, and one of its most expensive.

A Red Extreme Heat Warning from the Met Office, the highest alert it issues, covers central and southern England and Wales for 24 and 25 June 2026, with temperatures forecast to reach 38°C. Employers are already moving start times, sending staff home, and shifting heavy work to dawn.