The Diplomat
It is not that Germans will now be able to discover the Spanish siesta, but they will be able to invoke an authoritative voice to practice this custom, which is widespread in several southern European countries, as a way of coping with the high temperatures.
That authoritative voice is that of Johannes Niessen, President of the Federation of Doctors and Physicians in the Public Health Service (BVÖGD), who yesterday told RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), addressing his compatriots: “We should look to the countries of the South with regard to the heat in the workplace. Early mornings, productive work in the morning and a siesta in the afternoon is a concept we should introduce in the summer months.
Neissen believes that “in high heat people are not as productive”, because, he says, “poor sleep due to lack of refreshment in the evening leads to additional concentration problems”.
According to the president of the German doctors, “complex work tasks should therefore be moved to early in the morning. “In addition, more fans and lighter clothing are needed, even if the office dress code does not allow it,” he says.
Neissen also recommends drinking more and eating light meals in small portions, and adds that “another possibility is to take a foot bath with cold water under the desk to keep cool even when teleworking”.
The BVÖGD President’s recommendation comes at a time when the heat in Germany has not yet reached record temperatures, but in the next few days it will be at different levels across the country. The highest temperatures are expected to be in the south, between 27 and 28 degrees Celsius.
