At the beginning of July this year, the World Meteorological Organization noted the hottest week on record.
Heat waves continued in Europe, North America, Asia, North Africa and elsewhere.
And as the planet warms, people remain "stuck" in unyielding weather patterns for longer periods, says John P. Abraham, a professor of thermal sciences at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering in the US.
"What used to be a one- to two-day heat wave now lasts three to five days. People who can tolerate a day or two of extreme heat will have much more problems when it lasts longer," he says.
And while scientists predict that ongoing climate change will continue to raise temperatures and heat waves will become the norm, the way people live will also change.
And also, which one they are working on.
Workers need to know what could be coming soon, and companies need to step up to the task to protect them.
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Indoor and outdoor work
Changes in workplaces will generally fall into two categories, experts say.
The first are outdoor and non-refrigerated environments - such as agriculture or manufacturing - where high temperatures cannot be controlled.
In 2022, a Madrid street cleaner died of heatstroke after working at a very high temperature.
Academics say some of the biggest challenges will be to protect outdoor workers.
"Working outside in the heat will require shorter shifts with more breaks and more night work," says Abraham.
However, while this group of workers is likely to shift their shifts later in the evening, this approach does not solve all problems and still poses a risk.
First, he says, nighttime temperatures rise faster than daytime temperatures.
"If they've been working in the heat of the day and the nighttime temperatures are warm enough that their body can't cool down, they're going to struggle a lot the next day," he explains.
Other safety issues, such as visibility, are also an issue.
For workers in non-temperature-controlled environments, Abraham believes cooling centers will become common, and employers will have to institute breaks for workers to cool their body temperature enough to continue working.
Even employees who work in closed or refrigerated environments, although they are less exposed to extreme temperatures, should expect changes in their work habits.
"Modern arrangements such as remote work, hybrid work, four-day weeks.
"And six-hour working days instead of eight-hour days are proving beneficial in heatwave situations," says Mansur Sumro, a senior lecturer at Teesside University's International Business School, in the UK.
"It reduces the commute, which can further deplete workers' energy.
"Workers may also be more comfortable in the heat at home because of informal dress."
In both environments, some workers are already changing their schedules to start earlier and finish before temperatures peak in the early afternoon, which Sumro predicts we'll likely see more often.
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The role of employers
Employers could also introduce new measures for workers.
Sumro says some employers conduct periodic heat risk assessments to identify the most vulnerable groups, such as older workers, pregnant women and workers with disabilities.
"These people could get bonuses and financial assistance when they need it," he says.
He expects more employers to start implementing such checks as extreme heat becomes more common.
Similarly, he predicts that companies will increasingly implement concrete initiatives related to extreme heat and health.
These could be workshops to train workers to cope with heat stress or fitness and nutrition plans to help workers adapt to climate change.
Investment in infrastructure will also be key.
"Companies are investing in creating heat-resistant work environments, such as sustainable buildings with better cooling systems," says Sumro.
Changing the working day as a reaction to climate change can also suit leaders.
"Heat discomfort negatively affects work performance and productivity," says Sumro.
Similarly, companies want to avoid the negative consequences of heat-related health conditions as much as possible.
"Employees risk getting sick, losing working days and wages, and their families can also be affected. And employers suffer the consequences of medical treatment, lost productivity and legal disputes."
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While the onus is on some companies to protect workers, Abraham and Sumro agree that legislation needs to play a role — and fast.
The good news is that some governments are already adopting laws regarding working in an era of rising temperatures.
After the hottest April on record in the country, Spain has announced new laws for both business owners and workers.
In addition to financial support for companies affected by droughts, the new laws state that when weather conditions enter an orange meteo alert (significant risk) or red (extreme risk), it will be mandatory for employers to adjust working conditions, to reduce or change the number of working hours per day.
Although it is urgent, research shows that most countries are extremely unprepared for a quick reaction.
A July 2023 report from the University of Oxford highlighted an "unprecedented surge in cooling demand".
Their research indicates that the energy needed for cooling by 2050 is projected to be equivalent to the combined electricity capacity of the US, the European Union and Japan in 2016.
Locations unaccustomed to extreme heat were the most unprepared according to research - the most vulnerable countries were Ireland, Great Britain and Finland.
Climate change - as well as the future of work - remains uncertain, but experts say increasingly warmer weather will undoubtedly shake up work as we know it.
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