Germany's Heatwave Productivity Crash: Why Fans and Portable AC Are Out, Shutters and Night Air Are In
Published on 06/19/2026 at 14:45 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
As temperatures climb, German companies face a stark warning: every degree above 30°C in the office costs them roughly 3% in productivity, while energy bills rise by 1.2%. By 2030, Allianz Trade calculates, heatwaves could drain the German economy of around €112 billion.
Yet the most common remedies — fans and portable air-conditioning units — may make matters worse. In a new guide, the IG Metall union advises strongly against them, arguing they create health hazards that cancel out any short-term relief.
The IG Metall’s warning underscores a key point: workplace heat is a health risk that demands proper risk assessment. Many UK employers find their existing safety documentation doesn’t adequately cover thermal risks. A free Health & Safety Toolkit provides ready?to?use risk assessment templates and checklists to help you stay compliant. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit
Fans generate drafts that trigger colds and stiff necks, says the union. In open-plan offices, portable units that recirculate indoor air spread aerosols and droplets, raising the risk of respiratory infections. For allergy sufferers, the problem is worse: the devices kick up dust and pollen. The IG Metall recommends such equipment only for single-occupancy rooms. Mobile AC units also produce high noise levels and unpleasant draughts, leading to symptoms that resemble a cold or sore muscles.
Instead, the union pushes for structural and organisational fixes: keep blinds and shutters closed during the day, ventilate aggressively at night, and run electrical equipment only when necessary.
Germany’s Workplace Ordinance (Arbeitsstättenverordnung) lays down clear thresholds. At 26°C, employers should review measures. At 30°C, protective steps become mandatory. Above 35°C, rooms are deemed unsuitable without safeguards.
Hesse’s Labour Minister Heike Hofmann appealed to companies yesterday to take responsibility. Her suggestions include removing heat sources such as printers from workspaces, relaxing dress codes, and using flextime models to shift work to cooler morning hours.
The impact on health is already measurable. On days exceeding 30°C, sick-leave rates jump 3.5%. During prolonged heatwaves, the figure reaches 6%. Katharina Utermöhl, an economist at Allianz, calls active heat-protection management “necessary risk management for businesses.”
Effective heat protection is part of a broader duty of care under UK health and safety law. A free toolkit tailored to the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 includes nine practical tools — risk assessments, checklists, and a directors’ liability guide — to help you meet your legal obligations. Get the free Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 Toolkit
Politically, the idea of a siesta has entered the debate. The German Trade Union Federation (DGB) remains sceptical. Anja Piel from the DGB warns that branch-specific concepts are needed and that shifting from daily to weekly maximum working hours could erode protection standards.
Looking further ahead, experts see the answer in long-term building retrofits: green roofs, light-coloured facades, and effective shading systems to keep the offices of tomorrow cool without relying on energy-intensive cooling.
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