State Government Reacts: No 'Heat Leave' in Ministries - But Home Office and Water Provided

The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia is responding to the current heatwave by implementing measures to ease working conditions for employees in state chancellery and ministries. While schools may be closing early due to heat, government ministries are not offering 'heat leave.' Instead, they are focusing on providing a more comfortable work environment. The Ministry of Education, for example, ensures its staff have access to purified drinking water on all floors and utilizes an automated ventilation system for heat protection. Flexible working hours and existing remote work options are also encouraged to help employees manage the heat. In the State Chancellery, the requirement to be present in the office two days a week can be relaxed during prolonged heat periods. Similarly, the Ministry of Economic Affairs allows for flexibility in distributing in-office days over a four-week period and automatically lowers blinds during summer mornings. Other ministries are providing mineral water, access to air-conditioned rooms, alternative workspaces on lower floors, and fans when needed. Employees in offices with significant sun exposure can also switch to remote work or move to cooler areas within the building after consulting with supervisors.

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The automated ventilation system contributes to heat protection in the service building. Furthermore, purified drinking water is available to the employees of the Ministry of Education on all floors. Otherwise, flexible working hours and the existing possibilities for mobile working can contribute to working well even in heat.