Sweat, Work and Sun: The Left's Crusade for Heat Protections at the Office
Advocates push for broader employment opportunities.
Jan van Aken, co-chair of the Left Party, is pushing for heat breaks at workplaces. When temperatures hit 26°C, the daily grind should shorten by a quarter, according to van Aken's paper, titled "Heat Protection is Occupational Safety - Act Now." From 30°C, only half as much work should be done.
"The climate crisis isn't just an environmental disaster, it's a social one," van Aken stated, as reported by the German Editorial Network (RND). "People who swelter under the blazing sun or are stuck in a sweltering office often pay the price in health." In van Aken's view, nobody can effectively focus and work in an office beyond 30°C.
Heat stress can lead to health problems, van Aken warned, "be it in the office or for physical labor outdoors."
The Left leader is pressing the federal government to implement these measures by July 2025. Specifically, the Workplace Ordinance should be tightened:
- Additional ten-minute breaks per hour from 26°C.
- The right to an ample water supply and sun protection.
- The right to remote work.
- A 25% reduction in full-time work from 30°C.
From 30°C, breaks of 10 minutes should be taken every half hour, and fans should be made available at the workplace. Van Aken also advocates for free sunscreen dispensers at stations and more water dispensers in cities in his action paper.
Unions and AfD Slam the Proposal
The Union rejects the heat break demand, citing existing regulations. Marc Biadacz, the Union's labor and social policy spokesman, called the Left's initiative "utopian and economically hardly feasible - especially for crafts, care workers, or the public sector."
The AfD likewise doesn't support the Left Party's proposal. "It's not the state's job to dictate how companies behave, but to trust them to ensure their employees' well-being," said Martin Sichert, the AfD's health policy spokesman.
On the other hand, the Greens back "adjusted working time regulations." According to Andreas Audretsch, the Green faction's deputy, such adjustments are essential for outdoor workers, such as construction workers or garbage collectors, who have heightened health risks and skin cancer risks in hot weather.
Climate Change and Heat at Work: The Ultimate Guide
Currently, a room temperature up to 26°C is deemed tolerable by workplace technical rules. If temperatures exceed this limit, employers must assess whether employees' health is being compromised by the heat. In temperatures above 30°C, employers should take action, such as using sun shields on windows, providing drinks, or allowing for more frequent breaks. Above an internal temperature of over 35°C, the room is no longer suitable for work, and employees have the right to refuse work there, receiving longer cooling breaks or an alternative workspace.
Outdoor workers like construction workers, garbage collectors, and window cleaners often find it challenging to rely on room temperatures. However, regulations also exist to protect these workers from heat and sun exposure at the worksite, for instance, by using umbrellas, wearing a cap, applying sunscreen, and having access to ample drinking water.
[1] Source: ntv.de, mau/AFP
- Health
- Labor Law
- The Left
- Jan van Aken
- Climate Change
Enrichment Data:
The Left Party (Die Linke) in Germany has suggested specific and detailed measures for heat protection at workplaces to address the climate crisis. These measures aim to reduce workers' working hours and ensure regular breaks when temperatures rise beyond certain thresholds. Key suggestions include:
- When workplace temperatures exceed 26°C, working hours should be cut by 25%, with mandatory 10-minute breaks every hour.
- If temperatures surpass 30°C, worktime should be halved, and breaks of 10 minutes should be taken every half hour.
- Employers would be required to provide water and fans to employees to help reduce heat exposure.
- Additional suggestions include providing free sunscreen dispensers at beaches and increasing the number of water fountains in cities to support hydration.
Jan van Aken, Die Linke's leader, argued that heat significantly reduces concentration and work effectiveness, posing health risks in both office settings and physical labor outdoors. He urged the new German government to implement these demands into law to better safeguard workers' health amidst the escalating temperatures due to climate change.
- Jan van Aken, the co-chair of the Left Party, has proposed a community policy to implement heat protection measures at workplaces, including additional breaks and reduced work hours as temperatures rise, in response to the growing issue of heat stress due to climate change.
- In his action paper, van Aken advocates for policy-and-legislation that would requires employers to provide an ample water supply and sun protection, the right to remote work, and a 25% reduction in full-time work from 30°C.
- van Aken emphasizes the importance of these measures, stating that heat stress can lead to health problems, not just in the office but also for physical labor outdoors.
- The Left Party's proposal for heat break demands and tightened workplace ordinance is currently being debated in the realm of politics and general-news, with the Greens backing adjusted working time regulations and the AfD and Union rejecting the proposal.
