Extreme Heat in the Modern Workplace
An infographic on global heat waves fueled by climate change, created in Ankara, Turkiye on July 4, 2023. Yasin Demirci / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The Current Heat Crisis
Extreme heat is becoming a rallying issue for workers around the country. July is on track to be the globe's hottest month on record and there are no signs of the heat slowing down in August, or for the coming summers. Those who work outside or without air conditioning are at heightened risk of developing a heat-related illness, which can be fatal. From fields to warehouses to fast-food kitchens, workers are laboring in dangerously hot conditions with limited requirements to help keep these employees safe. Proposals for regulations surrounding working conditions in the heat aren't gaining traction with congress or government agencies. The Biden Administration announced it would add heat safety rules to OSHA in 2021, but progress has been slow and signs of impact are nonexistent. Thus, strikes are on an exponential rise evident from UPS to Voodoo Doughnuts as working conditions continue to be intolerable for many employees.
How Companies Are Impacted?
The workers most at risk are often those with the least leverage to protest and disproportionately workers of color or undocumented immigrants. The number is an astounding 38.7 million workers who are at risk from climate dangers, including heat and other extreme weather. While just 22% of white workers are in such jobs, 25.5% of Black workers and 36% of Latino workers are employed in industries that put them under risk. Despite The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) prescribing a "general duty" for employers to keep their workers safe, their broad provision and modest penalties for violating these rules provide practically no safety net when it comes to heat conditions. Small businesses and organizations must prioritize the wellbeing of their employees in the short term and make efforts to ease the global heat crisis in the long-term in order to be sustainable.
Where Can You Start?
Is your organization providing a comfortable working environment? Ensuring that the workspace is properly suitable is vital.There is a need to not only evaluate current comfortability plans but their efficacy as well.. Encouraging employees to share their concerns and ideas for coping with extreme temperatures and involving them in finding solutions can increase their engagement and well-being. Such opportunities are key to creating a hospitable workplace.
The perspective of management can make a major difference. Analysis of quantitative results from over 400 online surveys, conducted by Parkel Navigation®, showing the impact of COVID-19 on executives, revealed that when these executives showed concern, compassion and a level of understanding for the health of their employees, productivity spiked. This ties in parallel to the heat crisis; when those in charge lead by example and demonstrate empathy for their employees, not only does it cultivate a comfortable working environment but it incentivizes employees to stay with the organization and become far more high-yielding. As a business owner or manager, showing concern for your employees' well-being by actively participating in heat safety measures and demonstrating that it's a priority is essential.
Every business is unique, so it's critical to assess the specific needs and challenges of your workplace and tailor your approach accordingly. By taking these steps, small businesses and organizations can help protect their employees' health and well-being during heat crises and reduce the risk of losing valuable team members due to adverse working conditions.
Make This A Reality
In order to maximize retention rates, a data-driven approach should be adopted by those who are at risk of losing their employees. Surveying employees, taking action, and measuring the effectiveness of those actions must be done. Although it can be properly executed internally, this poses risks of privacy and data security. Seeking experts that specialize in the field of ESG consulting, especially as it relates to the global heat crisis, will optimize efficiency and can lead to a more comprehensive, data-driven, sustainable approach.
Climate change is an existential crisis. Every business and organization faces an imperative to take action. Choosing to ignore adverse temperature effects on employees is dangerous from both a well-being and productivity standpoint. Younger employees in particular care far more deeply today about the values and associated actions of their employer. Companies that don’t start to initiate these solutions will soon find themselves way behind their competitors. Sowen’s ESG experts can help small businesses and organizations develop their own ESG programs today to protect their reputations, culture, and enhance the bottom line.