Heatwave in Europe: how to work during extreme heat?

A heatwave is never easy…

It is time to bring out the fan and air conditioner again. The heatwave has returned across mainland France. On Thursday 13 August 2026, Météo-France is forecasting exceptionally high temperatures, which could reach as much as 41°C in some French regions. While 80 departments are under an orange heatwave warning, daily life goes on - and people still need to work. Whatever the job, such intense heat makes working conditions difficult. This is even more true in occupations involving outdoor and/or physical work.

In response to this latest heatwave, Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou has urged France to follow the lead of its European neighbours, particularly Spain. Here is an overview of the measures used in Spain, Italy, Greece and Germany when temperatures soar.

Europe: how can people work during a heatwave?

Spain is regularly held up as a model to follow during periods of extreme heat. Since the 1990s, Spanish legislation has set out rules for working in high temperatures. For sedentary work, enclosed spaces should not exceed 27°C - at least in theory. In practice, this limit is not always observed, especially in schools.

For the past three years, Spanish employees have been able to have their working hours adjusted when the national meteorological agency issues orange or red alerts. Construction workers in particular can move their shifts so that they finish by 15:00 at the latest. They may also be granted up to 4 days’ leave when adverse weather events occur. Even so, putting this protocol into practice can be difficult.

Italy: Worklimate and heat-risk assessments

In Italy, the Worklimate platform enables employers to assess the heat risk faced by their staff. Each day, it factors in temperature, humidity, wind and solar radiation, with employers also able to add the intensity of the work involved. There are four risk levels - green, yellow, orange and red - with measures required for each level.

In Lombardy, working during the hottest hours is prohibited in construction, quarrying and agriculture when the risk index is high. However, Le Monde notes that this national framework for protecting employees remains fairly unclear and is not widely enforced. Outdoor workers may, meanwhile, be eligible for short-time working when temperatures exceed 35°C.

Greece and Germany: thresholds for working in a heatwave

What about Greece? There, the collective agreement covering construction and industry requires work to stop, without loss of pay, when temperatures exceed 38°C in the shade. Work is also suspended for employees in construction and ship repair from 14:00 to 18:00 when temperatures are between 36 and 37°C, and from 13:00 to 19:00 once they reach 38°C.

The weather service uses a colour-coded map of the country based on WBGT index values. Each colour comes with different guidance, such as drinking water every 15 or 30 minutes, completely stopping work in direct sunlight, or cutting back on heavy work.

Germany, for its part, has set 35°C as the point at which temperatures inside premises become hazardous, prompting businesses to take preventive action. There are three thresholds, although employers are not obliged to halt their employees’ work.

When indoor temperatures are between 26 and 30°C, employers must keep blinds closed, use fans, operate electrical equipment only when necessary, provide drinks for staff and, where appropriate, alter working hours. Above 35°C, special measures must be implemented; otherwise, the room is not considered suitable for work. These may include technical measures, such as air showers or water curtains, organisational measures, including air-cooling periods, or personal protective equipment such as heat-protective clothing.