For the purpose of energy saving, in the coming autumn and winter, the offices of the authorities will be cooler by a few to three degrees. According to the labor inspectorate, the employer must ensure that the person does not catch a cold while at work, for example by providing a warm drink and longer rest breaks, during which the employee can move to warm up.
The average temperature in Estonian offices is 23-24 degrees, lowering the room temperature to 19 degrees helps to save energy. Legislation does not specify a specific temperature in the working premises. However, the state authorities have already received guidelines to reduce the temperature of the rooms in order to save energy.
At 19 degrees, some people may start to get cold. This cold feeling leads to the fact that the person is more tense, he gets tired faster. In this case, the employer must ensure that physical and mental fatigue caused by the cold does not inhibit work results. It is one thing to wear warmer clothes, but the employer must also allow more frequent rest breaks. Be sure to check if a warm drink is available. The employer must discuss the conditions with the employees.
"Certainly there are people who say that it is too cold for them, they feel that their hands and feet get cold, they cramp. This in turn causes muscle tension, which can lead to pain, in that case the work is hindered, you have to start looking for solutions right away," said Meeli Miidla-Vanatalu, Director General of the Labor Inspectorate.