Germany's Heat Dome Puts Employers on Notice: At 30°C, Mandatory Measures Kick In
Published on 06/23/2026 at 05:26 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A Cologne brewery cut its kitchen crew's shifts to just two and a half hours in the evening this week. From June 22 to June 24, the team worked only between 18:00 and 20:30—a direct response to temperatures soaring past 40 degrees Celsius as a "heat dome" settles over Germany.
The move highlights a reality many businesses now face: while there is no legal "hitzefrei" (heat-free day) for workers, German employers are bound by a strict temperature ladder that turns recommendations into obligations as the mercury climbs.
The threshold system
The Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV), together with the Technical Rules for Workplaces (ASR A3.5), sets three trigger points for indoor work. At 26°C, employers are urged to take initial steps—sunscreen, cooling—especially for pregnant women, older staff, or those doing heavy physical labour.
When the room temperature hits 30°C, the obligation sharpens. Companies must provide drinking water, relax dress codes, ventilate in the early morning, or set up fans. These are no longer suggestions; they are required actions.
When workplace temperatures climb toward 30°C, your obligations as a UK employer become just as pressing. The Health and Safety at Work Act requires you to assess and control risks from heat—but many businesses lack the right documentation to prove compliance. A free Health & Safety Toolkit gives you ready-to-use risk assessments, checklists and toolbox talks that help you meet your duties and protect your team. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit
At 35°C, the space is deemed unsuitable as a workplace unless special protections are installed—things like air showers or scheduled cool-down breaks. Yet even then, workers cannot simply walk off the job. Labour lawyer Alexander Bredereck warns that an unauthorized refusal to work can lead to dismissal. His advice: remind the employer of its duty of care, or involve the works council.
Home office: a harder line to draw
The heat rules apply to home offices too. "Employees working from home have a right to reasonable working conditions," says Prof. Dr. Peter Wedde, a Frankfurt labour lawyer. But in practice, enforcement is tricky. Who pays for a mobile air conditioner's electricity? Who ensures proper equipment? These are case-by-case decisions—while safety and data protection obligations remain in force, even in a heatwave.
Third of workers call heat a major problem
An IFES survey of 1,000 respondents found that nearly one in three names heat as a significant workplace issue. Only time pressure (41 percent) and psychological strain (36 percent) rank higher. The same study shows 48 percent of participants say their workload has increased over the past two years, and more than a third doubt they can keep working in their current job until retirement.
The GPA union is pushing for tighter law: binding break rules during hot weather, mandatory access to drinking water everywhere, and more company-level health promotion.
As the UK considers whether to follow Germany's lead on statutory workplace temperature limits, now is the time to get your heat-risk documentation in order. A free Risk Assessment Toolkit offers 41 ready-to-use templates and checklists for evaluating hazards, recording control measures, and staying compliant—before the next heatwave hits. Download the free Risk Assessment Toolkit
Heat stress beyond borders
The UK is facing a similar dilemma. The Met Office issued red heat warnings for parts of England and Wales, with predictions of 40°C. Britain also lacks a statutory maximum workplace temperature. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) is now calling for such limits to be introduced.
In Germany, the high temperatures have already triggered secondary risks. Over the past weekend, the DLRG reported multiple fatal swimming accidents. And cities are acting: Frankfurt am Main banned open-fire grilling starting June 24 to reduce fire danger.
For employers, the message is clear: when the thermometer approaches 30°C, passive observation is not an option. The law requires action—and ignoring it can carry real consequences, even if no law says "go home."
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