Heat wave in Havelland: Employers provide cooling enjoyment

Heat wave in Havelland: Employers provide cooling enjoyment

A hot Wednesday is on the horizon in Havelland - temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius are imminent. While many people want the cool water at the swimming lake, many employees still have to go to work. Nothing new for the companies in Havelland, which are increasingly adapting to the heat waves and supporting their employees in the best possible way.

An example is Karls in Elstal, where team managers were asked to release employees in extreme heat. The safety and well-being of employees are our top priority here. Reminding remote workers to stay hydrated and wear headgear ensures heat-related risks are minimized. There are also air-conditioned rooms and refreshing water playgrounds for visitors. According to local assessments, it makes a big difference to have a good hand for employee well-being, especially at temperatures like these.

Employers' duty of care

As labor law states, employers have a duty of care when temperatures are high. Loud daily news If the room temperature reaches 26 degrees, you are obliged to take measures to cool down. From 30 degrees onwards, further steps have to be taken – and not just for office jobs, but also in field production.

BSH Hausgerätewerk in Nauen relies on modern technology and has installed an intelligent ventilation system. Individual fans at each workplace ensure that all employees stay fresh, while careful control of sun protection and targeted ventilation in the morning keep temperatures down. There are also free cold drinks and refreshing towels to ease the daily heat workload.

The Havelland clinics are keeping operations running despite the ongoing heat wave. Here, employees can take turns and move to cooler areas. Flexitime models and mobile working also enable working hours to be handled more flexibly. Free water in vending machines and a change in the menu to lighter dishes round off the offer. Meetings will also be moved to larger rooms or held online to protect the well-being of employees.

Special measures for hot days

And Autohero in Ketzin also prevents the heat. With a newly installed ventilation system in the factory halls and the flexible adjustment of shift times, working at high temperatures is made easier. Employees are even regularly offered free ice tours, and to ensure protection while working, remote workers are provided with baseball caps and sunscreen. Water dispensers and chilled soft drinks are available all year round, which is particularly popular on hot days.

But despite all these measures, the reality is often harsh: employees have no legal right to “heat-free”. As the Mirror reported, the employer only has an obligation to ensure a pleasant working atmosphere. However, employees must continue to take their places even when it is 35 degrees as long as the employer takes care of the temperatures and takes protective measures.

Providing shade sails, cool drinks and appropriate clothing are essential measures to mitigate the effects of the heat. In cities, greening and air conditioning measures also represent a significant step towards improving the urban climate. As summers become increasingly hotter as a result of climate change, it will be crucial that both employers and employees find proactive answers to the heat-related challenges.