As German Workplaces Overheat, Union Demands for Stricter Indoor Rules Intensify
Published on 06/24/2026 at 10:05 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
Longer and more intense June heatwaves—the hottest since records began—are pushing companies and employees to their breaking point. With temperatures climbing past 35°C in some regions, the consequences are mounting: rising health risks, falling productivity, and a growing chorus of union demands for enforceable indoor temperature limits.
The economic toll is staggering. Analysts at Allianz estimate that extreme heat could cost the German economy roughly 112 billion euros by 2030. Once the mercury hits 30°C, labour productivity drops about three percent for every additional degree. Sickness absences rise by an average of 3.5 percent on days above 30°C; during prolonged heatwaves, that figure jumps to six percent. Workplace accident risk also increases by seven percent above the 30°C threshold. Cognitive performance, according to data from the Arbeiterkammer and the Medical University of Vienna, begins to decline as early as 27°C.
Germany’s workplace regulation ASR A3.5 sets the legal baseline. At 26°C room temperature, employers are encouraged to take action. At 30°C, they are legally obliged to provide protective measures—cold drinks, sunscreen, or relaxed dress codes. Above 35°C, a workspace without countermeasures is considered unsuitable for work. Yet workers who walk off the job without authorization risk a formal warning, unless an acute health hazard exists. Works councils hold co-determination rights and can push for agreements on flexible hours or cooling systems.
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Unions in both Germany and Austria are now demanding that these rules apply indoors, not just outdoors. Since January 2026, Austria has had binding heat protection regulations for outdoor work above 30°C. The ÖGB and GPA want the same for indoor spaces. GPA chairwoman Teiber calls for extending the heat-protection ordinance to all workplaces. Discussions also touch on introducing a siesta-style shift—moving work to cooler morning and evening hours. Economists view this as sensible risk management, but union representatives warn against slowly eroding the Working Hours Act.
High-risk sectors are already adapting. Swiss construction firms start earlier, provide neck protection and sunscreen, and reduce heavy physical labour during midday. In elderly care, nursing homes deploy more fans, water sprayers, and cold compresses. The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) report technical disruptions: rail tracks deform and air-conditioning systems fail.
Nearly one-third of employees now list heat among their top three job stressors—behind time pressure and psychological strain, according to an IFES institute study. More than a third doubt they can stay in their profession until retirement. The urgency is underscored by data from the Climameter initiative: climate change has made heatwaves in Western Europe up to four degrees hotter than in the second half of the 20th century. Cities such as Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin are experiencing particularly sharp temperature increases.
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