It's been a bitterly cold week with ice, snow and Arctic conditions gripping the nation - leaving some workplaces feeling just as frigid inside as out.

But what temperature threshold allows you to legally stop work and head home without consequences?

Countless workers across Britain have been looking up the legal minimum workplace temperature as they battle through icy conditions to reach their offices.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) confirms there's no statutory minimum - however, health and safety regulations provide guidance suggesting workplaces - be it an office or home - should maintain at least 16C, or 13C for those undertaking physical work.

ACAS states: "Although there's no legal maximum or minimum working temperature, health and safety guidance is that a reasonable temperature should usually be at least 16°C. If much of the work involves a lot of physical effort, it's 13°C.", reports the Express.

"What is reasonable also depends on the working environment and type of work.

"For example a bakery, office, warehouse or cold storage could all reasonably be expected to have varying temperatures."

The Health and Safety Executive states: "The Approved Code of Practice on the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations suggests the minimum temperature for working indoors should normally be at least 16C or 13°C if much of the work involves rigorous physical effort”.

Advice from the government simply states that you should ‘talk to your employer’ if your workplace temperature is not comfortable.

And if you work outside the law says your employer has a responsibility to keep you from harm, whatever the weather as part of its 'duty of care' towards you.

This includes rescheduling shifts where possible, carrying out extra training and handing out extra layers for warmth.

"Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, employers always have a duty of care to ensure their workers are safe; and this becomes even more important when the weather turns cold," Phil Pepper, head of employment at law firm, Shakespeare Martineau explains.

"This includes everything from providing appropriate clothing to help they stay warm, to ensuring that the workspace is safe and free from slip hazards, for example."

If your employer cannot provide the above, they may not be able to carry out the work and you may not have to go to work.

"Ultimately, if an employer can’t comply with the law and guarantee that their workforce will be safe, they can’t require them to come into work.

"On top of the hazards presented by the cold weather, ensuring employees are safe this year also includes providing the necessary PPE; this includes face masks and face shields, to comply with local and national coronavirus regulations.

"Particularly in the construction sector, there are similar health and safety obligations around providing a safe place of work that apply to full-time employees, contractors, and agency workers."