Freezing cold in the office—do I really have to put up with this?

When your boss leaves you out in the cold: your rights in winter

Hurricane "Elli" is raging outside, the snow is piling up—and inside the office? It's drafty and your fingers are freezing at your desk. But what many people don't know is that employers can't just leave their employees sitting in the cold. There are clear guidelines on how warm it must be in the workplace—and employees don't have to put up with everything.

Simply staying at home or stopping work is still not a solution. Lawyer Paul Krusenotto explains what applies legally—and how you can defend yourself against draughty offices and broken heating systems without risking your job.

How cold can it be in the office?

The answer is simple: not as cold as many people think.
According to the Technical Rules for Workplaces (ASR A3.5), the following minimum temperatures apply, depending on the activity:

• 20 degrees for light, sedentary work (traditional office)
• 19 degrees for activities performed while standing or involving light physical exertion
• 17 degrees during moderate work while walking
• 12 degrees for heavy physical work (e.g., warehouse or construction site)

Even stricter rules apply to break rooms, cafeterias, or restrooms:

• 21 degrees for common areas
• 24 degrees in washrooms with showers

Krusenotto makes it clear: "If temperatures fall below these values, the employer must take action." In concrete terms, this means repairing the heating system, installing additional heaters, or adjusting work processes. If the employer fails to do so, the situation can even become a health hazard—and then it's not just a matter of shivering.

What to do when it's too cold?

Important: Do not simply stay at home! Anyone who acts on their own initiative risks receiving a warning or being dismissed. Instead, you should:

1. Document temperature (e.g., with a thermometer)
2. Inform your supervisor or works council
3. Seek compromise solutions (e.g., working from home, break regulations)
4. If nothing happens: Contact the occupational safety authority

IG Metall also warns: "Employees must prove that the temperature at their workplace poses a health risk." Therefore: seek dialogue instead of refusing to work.

And on the way to work? Even in ice and snow, the rule is: act responsibly, but don't just stay away. Only if the journey is objectively unreasonable (e.g., closed roads) may you stay away—but you must notify your employer immediately.

What we say about this

Anyone who is still sitting in a freezing office today because the radiator is broken and their boss says, "Don't be so silly!" is not living in the working world of 2026. There are rules—and they are not there for fun. No one should get sick just because the room temperature is being kept low. Maybe it's time for some employers to spend a few hours in their own offices—without a jacket. Then maybe the repairs will be done quickly and it will warm up.

Source: merkur.de