Alex Trelinski
A MURCIA restaurant says its protecting its waiters by refusing to serve people wanting to sit outside in 40C temperatures.
Customers wanting to dine at the Las Cumbres Restaurant in Cabezo de Torres were given a flat rejection by the owner when they asked about eating on the terrace at midday.
Spanish labour laws make it quite clear that 27C should not be exceeded for sedentary work, falling to a maximum of 25C for lighter tasks.
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It specifies that ‘environmental conditions’ should not cause discomfort for workers and states that in any case, temperatures must not exceed 32C.
The Las Cumbres owner shared a social media exchange with a customer who wanted a high noon meal with temperature highs well above government approved levels.
He stated that the restaurant terrace is shut at midday because ‘it is very hot’
The potential client said: “We don’t care if its hot, we want the outside table anyway.”
The owner responded by stating: “It’s not going be down to you that we are going to have a waiter working at 40C on the street.”
Many people subsequently praised the restaurant on social media applauding its defence of workers.
There were a few detractors suggesting that it was just a publicity stunt during the heatwave or he was just saving money by not opening the terrace.
The restaurant responded by saying air conditioning had been installed in the kitchen area last year to combat 50 degree highs for staff, and units are also being put in for the grill area.
