New research indicates that the recent heatwave in the UK resulted in 24 million hours of lost work and a financial impact of £1.15 billion.
Breaking records, temperatures during the heatwave peaked at 37.7°C in Lingwood, Strumpshaw Hill on June 26, surpassing the previous record set in Southampton in 1976.
Workers nationwide had to adjust their schedules or take time off during the week starting on June 22 due to the extreme heat. This heatwave was one of three that hit western Europe within three months, impacting various sectors including health, infrastructure, and agriculture.
A survey conducted by the London School of Economics’ Grantham Research Institute and the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change revealed that, on average, workers in the UK reduced their hours by 0.47 during the last week of June. The economic cost was estimated based on the adjustments made by workers, with those in physically demanding jobs like construction and agriculture reducing their hours more significantly compared to those in less demanding roles.
The survey also highlighted that around 3.6% of respondents, equivalent to approximately 1.25 million workers, did not work at all during that week due to the heat, potentially resulting in an additional eight million lost hours and a cost of £0.38 billion to the economy. Additionally, 87% of respondents reported health-related impacts, with some experiencing extreme symptoms.
Furthermore, 5% of respondents sought medical attention, and 3% reported work-related accidents or injuries during that week, with many attributing it to the weather. Experts emphasized the need for better adaptation to climate change to safeguard workers’ productivity and well-being.
