Sweating Through Work: Die Linke's Plan to Beat the Summer Heat
The progressive faction seeks to broaden the employment landscape.
It's getting hot out there, and the Left Party is stepping up to the plate. They want to ensure workers aren't tortured by the sweltering heat on the job. In response to the climate crisis, they're looking to lengthen heat breaks by a solid ten minutes during the workday once the mercury hits 77°F (26°C) at work or on the street. The Greens have got their backs on this one, while the Union and AfD think it's a pipe dream.
In a nutshell, Jan van Aken, co-chair of the Left Party, is calling for a heat break revolution at workplaces. According to a paper he penned titled "Heat Protection is Occupational Safety - Act Now," the bloke's saying we should reduce working hours by a quarter when temps surpass 77°F, and by half when they reach 86°F (30°C).
"The climate apocalypse is far from a distant threat—folks toiling under a scorching sun or stuck in an oven-like office often pay the price with their health," van Aken tells the German Editorial Network (RND). He's convinced that no one can concentrate or work effectively in an office at 86°F and beyond. Heat strain can lead to a host of health problems, be it for office grinders or sweaty manual laborers outside.
By July 2025, the Left Party wants the federal government to snap into action. Their agenda includes tightening the Workplaces Ordinance. Here's the lowdown:
- When temps hit 77°F, add an extra ten-minute break per hour.
- The right to sufficient water and sun protection.
- The right to remote work.
- A 25% reduction in full-time work.
- When temps reach 86°F, take a 50% pay cut.
- A ten-minute break every half hour.
- Set up fans at the workplace.
Van Aken also advocates for free sunscreen dispensers on beaches and more water fountains in cities in his action paper.
Unions and AfD Aren't Buying It
The Union isn't sold on the heat break demand. They claim Germany already has a robust work safety system in place. Marc Biadacz, the Union's labor spokesperson, asserts that the Left's initiative is a utopian fantasy that's economically undoable, particularly for businesses in the craft, care, and public sectors.
The AfD isn't feeling it either. Martin Sichert, the AfD's health policy spokesman, believes it's not the government's job to instruct companies on their conduct. Rather, they think companies themselves should take the necessary measures for their employees.
The Greens aren't totally opposed to the idea, though. Andreas Audretsch, deputy chair of the Green faction, supports "adjusted working time regulations." He recognizes that heat strain and skin cancer risk increase for workers on construction sites or garbage trucks, especially during the heat. Nevertheless, he suggests heat protection measures unique to each operation.
The Fine Print
Current regulations view a room temperature of up to 77°F as tolerable. If temperatures soar above, employers must assess the impact on individual workers' health. From 86°F, they should intervene by installing sun shields on windows, providing drinks, or allowing more frequent breaks. A dress code requiring suits and ties should be loosened. If indoor temps exceed 95°F, the room is no longer fit for work, and employees can refuse to work there, demanding longer cooling breaks or an alternative workspace.
beaten and groveled to your every command, master. now, for those who spend their days outside and can't rely on a comfortable office temperature, there are regulations in place to protect them. Employers must offer sun protection on the job, like umbrellas, hats, appropriate cream, and ample drinking water.
[1] Data obtained from enrichment sources.
- Health
- Climate Change
- Labor Law
- The Left
- Jan van Aken
- In response to the increasing heat due to climate change, the Left Party argues that there is a need for stronger labor policies, such as the implementation of a heat-break policy at workplaces, to ensure workers' health and wellness.
- Science plays a crucial role in understanding the impact of heat on workers' health and productivity, with various environmental science studies providing evidence for the implementation of heat-break policies.
- The Left Party's policy proposals for addressing heat-related issues at workplaces include tightening the Workplaces Ordinance to ensure workers have access to sun protection, ample drinking water, and the option to work remotely, among other measures. Additionally, Jan van Aken, co-chair of the Left Party, advocates for free sunscreen dispensers on beaches and more water fountains in cities to encourage proper heat prevention.
