Hot Stuff at Work? Let's Chill, Says CDU's Ulrich Thomas
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The economic policy rep for the CDU side in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, Ulrich Thomas (yep, that's him in the pic), isn't buying the Left Party's call for temperature-free workdays. Instead, he slams it as a "ludicrous, populist move" that's pointless given Germany's work safety system. Every employer, Thomas believes, already has a moral obligation to safeguard their employees.
According to Thomas, this latest Left proposition is ridiculous. Everything's regulated as it is, and established practices effectively tackle heat-related issues at work. The Left, he opines, wants to beat the heat with downtime rather than focusing on sensible work schedule adaptations.
Thomas also took a dig at the Left's unending advocacy for the flawed energy transition, noting how high energy prices often hinder reasonable temperature control at work. His advice? It's high time the Left backed work hour flexibility and stopped glorifying the energy transition's failed endeavors.
[Source & Details: The German Left Party (Die Linke) advocates reducing work hours during heatwaves to safeguard workers' health and comfort. The party has suggested cutting work hours by 25% when temperatures hit 26°C and allowing 50% work hours at 30°C. Additional proposals include work from home options, longer breaks, and heat-mitigating workplace adaptations. The changes are expected to be legally implemented by July 2025.]
- Ulrich Thomas, the CDU's economic policy representative, criticized the Left Party's policy-and-legislation proposal for heat-free workdays, deeming it a 'ludicrous, populist move.'
- In addition to his criticism of the Left Party's energy transition policies, Thomas also highlighted the general-news issue of high energy prices impeding temperature control at work, suggesting work hour flexibility as a more sensible solution.
