A new report from the Shift Project highlights the growing problem of indoor heat exposure among service sector workers in the United States. Analyzing survey data from more than 3,500 service workers, the researchers found that many indoor employees in retail and food service environments regularly experience temperatures above 80°F and feel uncomfortably hot at work. According to the report, 65% of these workers have felt overheated on the job, and 36% experience this discomfort often or always.
The study also revealed that nearly half of surveyed workers are exposed to workplace temperatures that meet or exceed the 80°F threshold currently proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for defining dangerous heat exposure. The health effects of this exposure are notable: among retail and food service workers, 37% reported heat-related headaches, 34% experienced fatigue, and 24% suffered from nausea due to heat in the past year. Warehouse, fast food, and restaurant employees were especially affected, with exposure rates as high as 63%. Significantly, almost 40% of indoor workers in retail stores—who have often been excluded from heat regulations—routinely face excessive temperatures.
The report’s authors argue that these findings underscore the need for updated and enforceable federal and state standards to protect indoor workers from heat exposure. They point to the inconsistent patchwork of current regulations and spotty enforcement as a reason why many workers lack adequate protection. The report was co-authored by Hana Shepherd (Rutgers University and Workplace Justice Lab@RUs), Kristen Harknett (University of California, San Francisco), and Henri Jackson (the Shift Project).