Germans ought to emulate southern Europeans’ siesta throughout warmth waves, public well being group says

Germans ought to emulate the southern European custom of the siesta as a technique to help employees through the nation’s frequent sizzling spells, in accordance with the pinnacle of an affiliation representing public well being officers.

Germany’s well being minister reacted positively to the suggestion on Tuesday however stated firms and staff must resolve whether or not to take it up.

Whereas Germany has prevented the sort of temperatures roasting southern Europe this week, it has sizzled at occasions this summer time in temperatures within the mid-30s Celsius (90s Fahrenheit). The best temperature thus far this 12 months, 38.8 levels Celsius (101.8 levels Fahrenheit), was recorded in Bavaria on Saturday. Since then, the warmth has receded.

Nonetheless, this summer time’s excessive temperatures have been sufficient to immediate the pinnacle of the BVOeGD affiliation, which represents public well being officers throughout Germany, to suggest that the nation rethink its working habits throughout warmth waves.

“We must always orient ourselves when it’s sizzling towards the working strategies of southern nations. Getting up early, working productively within the morning and having a siesta at noon is an idea that we should always undertake in the summertime months,” Johannes Niessen instructed the RND newspaper group in feedback revealed Tuesday.

“Individuals are not as environment friendly in sturdy warmth as they’re in any other case,” he added. “As well as, unhealthy sleep within the absence of cooling within the night time results in focus issues.”

Germany has no custom of the sort of prolonged afternoon breaks which can be frequent, for instance, in Spain.

Well being Minister Karl Lauterbach tweeted that “siesta within the warmth is actually not a foul suggestion” however signaled that the federal government does not intend to get entangled within the challenge.

“Employers and staff ought to negotiate on that themselves,” he wrote. “Actually is smart medically for a lot of professions.”

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