Working in hot weather – new obligations for employers from 2027 

From January 11, 2027, employers will face new obligations related to organizing work in high temperatures. The changes result from the regulation of the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy of July 9, 2026, which was published in the Journal of Laws of July 10, 2026. Although the regulations will come into force next winter, employers should prepare for them before the 2027 summer season to ensure compliance with occupational health and safety regulations and avoid organizational risks. 

The new regulations are a response to increasingly frequent heatwaves and the growing health risks for employees. For employers, however, they mean more than just the need to provide water or additional breaks. Many organizations will need to streamline health and safety procedures, temperature measurement, work time management, employee communication, and sometimes even invest in air conditioning or other technical solutions. 

Working in hot weather from 2027 – a summary of information for employers 

From January 11, 2027, employers will be required to respond to high temperatures in the workplace. Work will not be permitted above 35°C indoors or 32°C outdoors for heavy work. Prior technical or organizational measures will be required starting from 28°C indoors and from 25°C for heavy work indoors or outdoors. Employers should prepare temperature measurement procedures, work organization rules, employee consultations, and occupational health and safety documentation. 

What exactly will change? The most important rules 

The new regulations introduce two levels of obligations. The first concerns temperatures at which employers must take action to limit the impact of heat on employees. The second establishes maximum temperature limits, above which work may be prohibited. 

Maximum temperatures beyond which work must be stopped

The employer will have to ensure that work is not carried out when the temperature due to weather conditions is higher than: 

If these limits are exceeded, work cannot continue. Importantly, the actual temperature at the work site will be decisive, not the weather forecast or weather warning itself. 

When will the employer have to react earlier? 

The work stoppage is intended to be a last resort. Before the maximum limits are exceeded, employers will be required to implement technical or organizational measures when temperatures reach lower thresholds. 

In work areas, the obligation to react will arise when the temperature exceeds: 

In open spaces, the employer will have to apply appropriate organisational solutions when the temperature exceeds 25°C . 

In practice, this may mean, among other things, the need to install air conditioning or ventilation, limit room heating, take additional breaks, change working hours, shift the most demanding tasks to cooler times of the day, rotate employees, provide shaded rest areas, or reorganize field work. 

For greater clarity, we have collected the most important temperature thresholds and the resulting employer obligations in the table below. 

Situation	Temperature threshold	Employer’s obligation
Working indoors	above 28°C	technical or organizational activities
Hard physical work indoors	above 25°C	technical or organizational activities
Working in the open air	above 25°C	organizational solutions
Any indoor work	above 35°C	work stoppage
Hard work in the open air	above 32°C	work stoppage

What do the new regulations mean for employers? 

The biggest challenge will not be simply taking temperatures but creating a repeatable and documented system. Employers should know who is taking temperatures, where they are taken, how often, how thresholds are exceeded, and what decisions should be made in specific situations. 

The new regulations will particularly impact manufacturing plants, logistics, warehousing, construction, retail, catering, agriculture, field services, and companies employing mobile workers. However, this doesn’t mean offices can ignore this issue. The 35°C indoor temperature limit applies to all types of work, while the 28°C threshold will require prior organizational or technical response. 

Technical or organizational solutions – what to choose? 

Regulations don’t impose a single, universal method. Actions should be tailored to the specific conditions and work environment. This is good news for employers, but it also represents greater responsibility. Companies should be able to demonstrate that the measures implemented effectively limit the impact of high temperatures on employee health. 

Technical solutions may include: 

• air conditioning, 

• mechanical ventilation, 

• roller blinds, sun protection foils or other sun protection, 

• insulation of heated surfaces, 

• temperature monitoring systems, 

• improving air circulation. 

Organizational solutions may include: 

• additional breaks, 

• change of working hours, 

• reducing sun exposure, 

• job rotation, 

• work during colder times of the day, 

• limiting the most burdensome tasks, 

• providing shaded rest areas, 

• temporary transfer of work to other rooms. 

When it comes to outdoor work, the new regulations primarily focus on organizational solutions. In practice, schedules, breaks, access to shade, ongoing communication with supervisors, and a quick response to symptoms of overheating will be particularly important. 

Consulting with employees – an obligation that should not be left to the last minute 

What are the exceptions? 

The regulation provides for exceptions to the obligation to temporarily suspend work. These include situations in which interrupting work could threaten human safety, state security, the continuity of essential public services, or patient care. 

Cases where high temperatures are caused by technological reasons, such as working with industrial furnaces, should also be treated separately. In such situations, other employee protection measures will be necessary. 

For most employers, however, the key principle remains simple: if high temperatures are due to weather conditions and the indicated thresholds are exceeded, the company must comply with the new requirements. 

How to prepare your company for new regulations? A practical checklist for employers 

There are still several months left until the regulations come into force, but for many, this may mean little time for preparations, especially where technical investments, construction work, changes to regulations, or adjustments to work schedules will be required. 

1. Identify sites and locations exposed to high temperatures

Analyse which employee groups are most vulnerable to heat. Consider not only production halls and fieldwork, but also warehouses, reception areas, back rooms, kitchens, company vehicles, and rooms with high sunlight. 

2. Determine how to measure temperature

Determine where and how temperature will be measured. It’s important to identify the individuals responsible for measurements, the frequency of monitoring, how results will be documented, and the decision-making process for exceeding thresholds. 

3. Verify current technical solutions

Check whether existing ventilation, air conditioning, and sunshades are adequate. If not, plan your investment in advance. Contractor availability may be limited during the summer season, and the costs of urgent work tend to increase. 

4. Prepare work organization options for hot days 

Develop policies for additional breaks, shift work hours, job rotation, and peak work restrictions. Determine which tasks can be rescheduled, which require on-site presence, and which can be performed at a different location or at a different time.  

Any changes to working hours or schedules should take into account regulations regarding planning and accounting for working time.

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5. Consult solutions with employees 

Don’t postpone consultations until the last minute. The sooner a company can talk with employees, the health and safety committee, staff representatives, and the occupational health physician, the easier it will be to prepare solutions that are realistic and can be implemented. 

6. Update internal documentation 

Review work regulations, health and safety instructions, work time management procedures, absence reporting policies, and communications to managers. New responsibilities should be described clearly, practically, and consistent with the company’s daily operations. 

It’s also worth streamlining HR processes and document flow, as digitizing documentation allows for faster implementation of changes resulting from new regulations. An example is electronic occupational health certificates, which simplify the process of transmitting and archiving employee documents. 

7. Train managers and team leaders 

Supervisors will most often make operational decisions on hot days. They should know when to initiate additional breaks, when to change work organization, how to respond to symptoms of overheating, and when to report the need to suspend work. 

8. Plan your budget 

Additional responsibilities may include the costs of purchasing measuring devices, modernizing ventilation, installing air conditioning, purchasing sunshades, changes to shift patterns, training, or legal and HR consultations. It’s better to budget for these costs in advance than to react only during the first heatwave. 

New obligations regarding working in hot weather are just one of many changes employers must contend with. To stay up to date on employment regulations, working hours, remuneration, and employer obligations, it’s worth checking out the comprehensive guide Hiring an Employee in Poland 2026 – Basic Employer Obligations. 

What risks does an employer face if they do not prepare properly? 

Failure to prepare for new requirements can pose not only organizational risks but also legal and reputational damage. Employers are obligated to ensure safe and hygienic working conditions. If procedures are lacking during hot weather, decisions are made haphazardly, and employees are unaware of the applicable rules, the risk of disputes, inspections, complaints, and liability for violations of occupational health and safety regulations increases. 

It is worth remembering that before the new regulations come into force, employers must still apply current health and safety regulations, including providing employees with appropriate beverages and organizing work in a way that reduces risks related to high temperatures. 

Summary – new regulations on working in hot weather are a topic for HR, health and safety and management 

Working in hot weather from 2027 onward will require a more systematic approach from employers. A one-time message to employees or purchasing water for the hottest days won’t be enough. Companies should develop procedures, establish a method for measuring temperature, plan technical and organizational measures, consult with employees, and ensure consistent documentation. 

For HR departments, this is another area where regulatory compliance intersects with daily work organization. The sooner a company streamlines its processes, the lower the risk of downtime, poor decisions, and unnecessary costs during the summer season. 

Table – Division of responsibilities by department in the organization 

Area in the company	What should he do?
Management	plan your budget and investment decisions
HR/personnel	update regulations, communications and documentation
Health and Safety	assess risks, prepare instructions and procedures
Managers	respond operationally on hot days
Administration/facility	check air conditioning, ventilation, blinds, rest areas

If you want to prepare your organization for new responsibilities, streamline your HR processes, and ensure your company complies with current regulations, take advantage of the support of TGC Corporate Lawyers and Contract Administration experts. As part of our labour law services, we provide ongoing monitoring of changes in labour law, support with document management, time tracking, and reviewing HR regulations and procedures. 

Find out how we can help reduce the workload of your HR department and help your company prepare for new employer responsibilities. 

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FAQ – working in hot weather from 2027