[Czech Republic] Health ministry proposes lowering minimum workplace temperatures

Things could become a little frosty among colleagues in the Czech Republic this winter. In response to the ongoing energy crisis, the Czech Ministry of Health has proposed lowering the minimum temperature allowed by law in the majority of workplaces across the country, Expats.cz reports.

For most employees, this would mean a potential dip in temperatures of around two degrees Celsius. The Czech government was reportedly due to debate the Health Ministry's proposal, an amendment to the law regulating the protection of employees at work, today.

In most Czech offices (Job Class I under Czech law), the minimum permitted temperature during the winter is currently 20 degrees Celsius, with a maximum temperature during the summer months of 27 degrees.

The new proposal from the Health Ministry would lower the minimum allowable temperature to 18 degrees Celsius in Czech offices.

"The main reason for the proposal is to revise the legal framework in relation to the minimum temperature requirements in the workplace," the Health Ministry states in their official report.

"[The proposal] takes into account the current situation, in connection to the war in Ukraine, where there is a restriction and interruption of natural gas supplies and further persistence of the energy crisis is expected."

The Ministry's proposal covers most Czech workplaces. For office jobs with minimal physical activity (Job Class I), the minimum temperature would reportedly be lowered to 18 degrees Celsius.

In workplaces with light physical activity, for example at factories, warehouses, or retail stores (Job Class IIa) the minimum temperature would go down to 16 degrees Celsius from the current 18 degrees.

Other job classes would not be affected, but minimum temperatures at specific workplace locations would also go down under the new proposal. Locker rooms would drop to 18 degrees Celsius, showers to 19 degrees, and restrooms to a chilly 15 degrees.

The current minimum temperatures for Czech workplaces were established in 2007.

"They are [minimum] temperatures below which no one is allowed to go. If the temperature is higher, there is no problem at all," Health Minister Vlastimil Válek said on September 22.

"I assume that a number of facilities where, for example, there are old patients, bedridden patients, or seniors in retirement homes, they will simply have a higher temperature," he said.

According to Mr Válek, the Health Ministry consulted the proposal with local doctors and compared it with other countries. The minister added that the mandatory temperature levels have not changed for a long time, so they do not reflect recent changes including global warming.

Source: Expats.cz

(Links and quotes via original reporting)

Things could become a little frosty among colleagues in the Czech Republic this winter. In response to the ongoing energy crisis, the Czech Ministry of Health has proposed lowering the minimum temperature allowed by law in the majority of workplaces across the country, Expats.cz reports.

For most employees, this would mean a potential dip in temperatures of around two degrees Celsius. The Czech government was reportedly due to debate the Health Ministry's proposal, an amendment to the law regulating the protection of employees at work, today.

In most Czech offices (Job Class I under Czech law), the minimum permitted temperature during the winter is currently 20 degrees Celsius, with a maximum temperature during the summer months of 27 degrees.

The new proposal from the Health Ministry would lower the minimum allowable temperature to 18 degrees Celsius in Czech offices.

"The main reason for the proposal is to revise the legal framework in relation to the minimum temperature requirements in the workplace," the Health Ministry states in their official report.

"[The proposal] takes into account the current situation, in connection to the war in Ukraine, where there is a restriction and interruption of natural gas supplies and further persistence of the energy crisis is expected."

The Ministry's proposal covers most Czech workplaces. For office jobs with minimal physical activity (Job Class I), the minimum temperature would reportedly be lowered to 18 degrees Celsius.

In workplaces with light physical activity, for example at factories, warehouses, or retail stores (Job Class IIa) the minimum temperature would go down to 16 degrees Celsius from the current 18 degrees.

Other job classes would not be affected, but minimum temperatures at specific workplace locations would also go down under the new proposal. Locker rooms would drop to 18 degrees Celsius, showers to 19 degrees, and restrooms to a chilly 15 degrees.

The current minimum temperatures for Czech workplaces were established in 2007.

"They are [minimum] temperatures below which no one is allowed to go. If the temperature is higher, there is no problem at all," Health Minister Vlastimil Válek said on September 22.

"I assume that a number of facilities where, for example, there are old patients, bedridden patients, or seniors in retirement homes, they will simply have a higher temperature," he said.

According to Mr Válek, the Health Ministry consulted the proposal with local doctors and compared it with other countries. The minister added that the mandatory temperature levels have not changed for a long time, so they do not reflect recent changes including global warming.

Source: Expats.cz

(Links and quotes via original reporting)