German Workplaces Swelter as Heat Protection Remains Voluntary, Experts Warn
20.06.2026 - 12:59:08 | boerse-global.de
Germany’s prolonged heatwave has reignited a battle between unions, medical professionals, and a government that so far sees no need for legislative action. Despite temperatures hitting 37.3 degrees Celsius in Hesse on June 19, workers and students have no statutory right to stay home when the mercury rises — a gap critics call a failure of duty of care.
“Heat protection is economic protection,” says environmental physician Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann. The data backs her up. Allianz Trade calculates that heatwaves could cost the German economy roughly 112 billion euros in lost output by 2030. Each degree above 30°C shaves 3 percent off productivity, while sick notes climb an average of 3.5 percent on scorching days. A single hot day, according to Prognos data, costs between 400 and 431 million euros — driven by reduced performance and around 76,500 extra sick leave days.
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Allianz economist Utermöhl warns that Germany is poorly prepared for rising temperatures. Yet the Federal Labour Ministry sees no political need for action. That stance frustrates unions and doctors, who demand binding standards — flexible hours, adjusted shift schedules, and structural changes to buildings.
The IG Metall trade union is particularly blunt about half-measures. Fans, it warns, simply stir up dust, pollen, and aerosols, raising infection risks. Instead, the union recommends blinds, night-time ventilation, and mobile air-conditioning units only for single-occupancy offices, noting that such units are often noisy and create drafts.
Hesse’s Labour Minister Heike Hofmann has appealed to employers, pointing to existing workplace rules: offices should not exceed 26°C; above 30°C, protective measures become mandatory. She suggests removing printers from rooms, relaxing dress codes, and introducing flextime models that let staff work during cooler morning hours.
Some state governments are moving on their own. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the regional administration offers its employees home office options or air-conditioned alternate rooms. Several ministries have loosened attendance requirements. The Science Ministry now allows a working window from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. — flexibility rather than a blanket “heat-free day.”
Schools are a flashpoint. The Education and Science Union (GEW) demands binding heat protection rules for all schools. State chairwoman Ayla Celik criticizes that senior students and teachers are excluded from current heat-free regulations. “Heat protection is a duty of care — regardless of a school’s building quality or a municipality’s budget,” she says. Under present rules in NRW, heat-free classes are possible when room temperature hits 27°C, but banned below 25°C.
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In online debates, some are floating a Spanish-style siesta. Economists call it sensible risk management. The German Trade Union Federation (DGB) is cautious, supporting sector-specific solutions but warning against using the heat debate to water down working time law.
Labour law expert Krusenotto clarifies the legal bottom line: no employee has a statutory right to stay home because of heat. Once a room reaches 35°C, the employer must deem the space unsuitable — unless cooling is provided. Walking off the job without permission is risky and only permissible in cases of acute health danger. For now, that leaves millions of Germans sweltering at their desks, with little more than a fan and a hope for cooler days.
