"Skyrocketing Temperatures Drain U.S. Economy of Billions in Productivity"

Rising temperatures due to climate change are impacting workers across various industries in the United States, leading to decreased productivity and economic losses. Extreme heat is affecting not only traditional sectors like agriculture and construction but also industries such as factories, warehouses, restaurants, airlines, telecommunications, delivery services, and energy companies. Studies show that as temperatures rise, absenteeism increases, work hours decrease, and productivity slumps. The cost of heat-related labor losses in 2021 alone was estimated at over 2.5 billion hours and $100 billion. However, there are currently no national regulations to protect workers from extreme heat, and efforts to establish such protections face opposition from business groups.