German Employers Must Act at 26°C, but 35°C Means Paid Leave – New Heat Rules Explained
23.06.2026 - 01:11:59 | boerse-global.de
Nearly one in three employed people in Germany says heat at work is a serious problem, according to a survey of 1,000 workers by the IFES institute. Around 48 percent reported that their workload has increased over the past two years because of rising temperatures. The sense of urgency is mounting: more than 90,000 heat-related sick days have been officially recorded.
The legal framework is already in place. It comes from the Workplace Ordinance (Arbeitsstättenverordnung) together with the Technical Rules for Workplaces (ASR A3.5). Those rules create a three-tier system tied strictly to room temperature. There is no blanket right to "Hitzefrei" — but there are graduated duties that employers must follow.
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At 26°C, bosses are expected to start taking measures. That can mean installing sun protection systems or adjusting ventilation strategies.
Once the thermometer hits 30°C, action becomes mandatory. Companies must provide drinking water, relax dress codes, or shift working hours to cooler early-morning periods.
When the indoor temperature exceeds 35°C, the room is deemed unsuitable for work. If no technical or organisational alternative exists to cool the space, employers may have to send staff home — and pay them for the time.
Some businesses are already adapting. Deutsche Post, for example, recommended that its roughly 111,400 parcel deliverers wear long-sleeved shirts and caps in June 2026, and emphasised consistent sun protection. In Cologne, a brewery shortened its kitchen opening hours to an evening-only slot to shield cooks from extreme heat near the stoves.
Unions such as GPA are calling for stricter legal provisions, specifically binding break rules and better access to drinking water. The Left Party (Die Linke) proposed a "climate short-time working benefit" in June 2026. The idea is to cushion the economic impact when heat makes work impossible.
Workers should not take matters into their own hands. Leaving the workplace without authorisation can lead to disciplinary action, including termination. There is also no general entitlement to work from home when temperatures rise.
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Schools have their own guidelines. In states such as Baden-Württemberg or North Rhine-Westphalia, head teachers can decide on "Hitzefrei" autonomously. The rule of thumb: outdoor temperatures of 25°C in the morning or classroom temperatures of 27°C. On 22 June 2026, several gymnasiums in NRW ended lessons for younger grades after the fourth period. Upper secondary classes and vocational schools are usually subject to the stricter office rules.
The healthcare sector is also taking steps. In 2025, the Mainz Social Court ruled that nursing funds can grant subsidies of up to €4,180 for air conditioning for heat-vulnerable patients. Since the start of 2026, a monthly relief amount has been available for cooling measures. For particularly vulnerable groups — pregnant women, older employees, and people with pre-existing conditions — stricter risk-assessment standards apply across the board.
