Heat is already draining workers and costing Germany billions
Published on 07/17/2026 at 07:24 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
Germany’s growing heat problem is no longer just a public-health issue. It is a workplace issue, a productivity issue and, according to the German Trade Union Confederation, a matter for state compensation.
Yasmin Fahimi, who leads the Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB), is calling for a new heat-related compensation payment. As extreme temperatures become more frequent, she says the state should compensate employees when work is suspended because of severe heat. The DGB is also urging a comprehensive strategy to protect workers.
A recent DGB survey of around 4,000 employees suggests the strain is already widespread. One in three workers says they suffers under the heat. The pressure is even greater for those working under tight deadlines: 48 percent in that group report feeling affected. The same is true for physically demanding jobs, where the burden rises noticeably.
Speaking of protecting workers from extreme conditions — managing heat stress and other workplace hazards doesn’t have to be complicated. A free Health & Safety Toolkit provides ready-to-use risk assessments, checklists and toolbox talks that help UK employers stay compliant with current regulations and prevent accidents. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit
The economic hit is substantial as well. The DGB estimates that each hot day costs the German economy about 431 million Euro. Fahimi is therefore pressing for a broad package that includes financial compensation, better shading, free drinks and looser dress codes.
Separate analysis points to the scale of the damage in even starker terms. A Prognos study on the heatwave in June 2026 found total losses of at least 6,3 Milliarden Euro. Around 97 percent of that sum came from lower productivity. The manufacturing sector was hit hardest, with losses of 1,9 Milliarden Euro.
Allianz Trade data reinforces the pattern. From 30 degrees, labour productivity falls by three percent for every degree Celsius, while energy costs rise by 1,2 percent per degree. Market researchers estimate cumulative heat costs from 2026 to 2030 at 115 Milliarden Euro.
Politics is beginning to respond. On 16. Juli, the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia approved measures for stronger climate protection and better climate adaptation. Hospitals and care facilities are a main focus. During the June heatwave in NRW, around 1.200 deaths were recorded.
With employers under growing pressure to act, now is the time to check whether your health and safety documentation meets legal requirements. A free toolkit aligned with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 gives you essential checklists and risk assessments to help protect your workforce — even as risks like heat stress intensify. Get your free Health & Safety at Work Act Toolkit
The debate has also brought fresh calls for subsidy programmes to install air conditioning in daycare centres and schools. Environment Minister Carsten Schneider pointed to 100 Milliarden Euro from a special fund for heat protection. Municipal associations, however, say there is an investment backlog of more than 230 Milliarden Euro and want heat protection written into law as a joint public responsibility.
Employers are also under pressure to act directly. The construction union IG BAU is urging companies to do more for outdoor workers and recommends the WSS rule: Water, sunscreen, shade. Its advice includes:
- Use SPF 50 and reapply every two hours
- Provide drink flats (three to five litres a day for heavy work)
- Shift working hours to cooler morning and evening periods
- Take regular breaks in the shade
Germany and Switzerland still do not have a legal right to “Hitzefrei,” or being sent home because of heat. Some companies have already introduced their own measures. A Swiss packaging company shortens the working day to six hours from 30 degrees, with full pay compensation. So far, it has not led to any economic losses. Accident insurers also warn that once temperatures reach 30 degrees, the risk of workplace accidents rises by seven percent.
Disclaimer regarding our articles: No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Information on prices, companies, and markets is provided without guarantee; changes are possible at any time. Stock market transactions can lead to substantial losses. Our articles are created and reviewed in whole or in part automatically with the support of AI.
