While they're at it, include schools too. Many school buildings have inadequate ventilation or climate control. Sweating in >30°C high-CO2 spaces doesn't improve student's learning.
In Germany that's already a thing afaik
Europe's Largest Unions Demand Right to Cancel Work on Days Above 30C
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Re: Europe's Largest Unions Demand Right to Cancel Work on Days Above 30C
#32I think this whole heat wave crisis has been shocking to the rest of the world to see that apparently Europeans refuse to install AC even in new-build homes and it is causing enormous numbers of deaths. What is the reason for this? Is it just because it's expensive and energy costs are so high?
It seems like a basic safety requirement that they are refusing to acknowledge and are now apparently just refusing to go to work completely when it gets hot outside.
Re: Europe's Largest Unions Demand Right to Cancel Work on Days Above 30C
#33Turns out in the 21st century the technology that will boost worker productivity in Europe will not be AI, it will be AC.
Re: Europe's Largest Unions Demand Right to Cancel Work on Days Above 30C
#34I wish that society can learn about and apply the concept of a wet bulb temperature.
A dry bulb temperature of 30C contains little information regarding safety. Humans are wet and we cool ourselves with evaporation.
Re: Europe's Largest Unions Demand Right to Cancel Work on Days Above 30C
#35(Slightly) better article: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/08/unions-e...
OP's submission seems very UK / TUC centric, also doesn't include something many here are bringing up, that they indeed plan to base it on the wet bulb temperature.
Re: Europe's Largest Unions Demand Right to Cancel Work on Days Above 30C
#36> Under the proposals, employers within the European Union would be legally required to suspend work if temperatures exceeded 30C That's... uh... the entire summer in most of southern Europe? I agree with the general intention, but the thresholds probably need to take into account humidity as well (i.e. be based on wet bulb temperatures), and I don't really see how one can apply a one-size-fits-all policy all the way…
_laughs in maltese_
Re: Europe's Largest Unions Demand Right to Cancel Work on Days Above 30C
#37I think this whole heat wave crisis has been shocking to the rest of the world to see that apparently Europeans refuse to install AC even in new-build homes and it is causing enormous numbers of deaths. What is the reason for this? Is it just because it's expensive and energy costs are so high? It seems like a basic safety requirement that they are refusing to acknowledge and are now apparently just refusing to go to…
Collective cultural delusion? Koreans think leaving a fan on while you're sleeping is deadly... people are weird.
Re: Europe's Largest Unions Demand Right to Cancel Work on Days Above 30C
#38Re: Europe's Largest Unions Demand Right to Cancel Work on Days Above 30C
#39While they're at it, include schools too. Many school buildings have inadequate ventilation or climate control. Sweating in >30°C high-CO2 spaces doesn't improve student's learning.
That's an interesting way to investigate how much public policy surrounding schools is actually focused on student education. I think you'd find that there would be significant fear around crime in an environment that already has a heightened risk of riots. For younger students the debate would shift to burden of additional childcare.
Re: Europe's Largest Unions Demand Right to Cancel Work on Days Above 30C
#40Vapor compression refrigeration has been mass produced for a century. Add a reversing valve and you have a heat pump. Europe better get started on installs, it’s not going to cool down.
I have a heat pump based water heater installed in the garage. One side benefit is the garage got cooled down. It used to be that the garage got very hot during hot days. Now it’s cool.