Overview

• Under German law employees have no entitlement to Hitzefrei and cannot demand breaks or air conditioning solely because of heat.
• The Arbeitsschutzgesetz obligates employers to maintain workroom temperatures at or below 26 °C and to eliminate hazards before they endanger health.
• Escalating thresholds—over 26 °C, over 30 °C and over 35 °C—trigger required technical, organizational or personal protective measures.
• Outdoor workers must undergo heat and UV risk assessments that lead to shade structures, additional breaks and protective gear against heat, UV radiation and ozone.
• Home office workers bear primary responsibility for heat protection under employer guidance and may only stop work as a last resort when their health is imminently threatened and no measures are taken.