Guess what the number one employee complaint is in most workplaces? The Office Temperature!
It’s too Hot… It’s too Cold…
It has been called the Thermostat Wars. Year after year employee surveys come back with a similar result – employees are not happy about the temperature in the office.
Office temperature should matter to employers as well, as it impacts worker productivity. If the office is too warm, everyone is sluggish and sleepy. If the office is too cold, people’s alertness soon turns to discomfort.
Adjusting the temperature to the ideal setting can be difficult. First, everyones ideal temperature varies a little and it varies enough to create the situation where some people will be comfortable while others will be uncomfortable. Second, office buildings have not been designed to easily regulate temperature. Older buildings heat up and cool down too slowly. Often taking several days to adjust to swings in the outdoor temperature. Newer buildings are often not much better than older buildings at temperature regulation – blasting freezing cold air by the vents and heating up like a sauna near windows. Third, we live in Canada where we experience alot of different weather throughout the year – 4 seasons and several days each summer and winter of extreme temperatures.
Is there a solution to the Thermostat Wars?
No there is not a perfect solution, but there are things employers and employees can do to manage office temperature.
- Accept some discomfort – especially during extreme temperatures. Most of us do not break the bank heating and cooling our houses to the perfect temperature every day of the year. We live with a little discomfort. Your expectation at the office should be the same.
- Dress appropriately for the weather both outside and inside the office.
- Layer, layer, layer. Dress in layers so you can adjust as needed.
- Keep a shall, scarf, blanket, sweater, vest or jacket at work to pull on and off as needed.
- Some fabrics are better at helping you maintain an even temperature – natural fibers such as cotton, linen, and wool.
- Use a heater or fan to supplement the building heating and air-conditioning.
- When it is cold, get up from your chair and move around more frequently.
- When it is hot, take a break outside for 5 to 10 minutes – when you come back inside it will feel cooler.
- Warm drinks can help regulate the body temperature. Warm drinks work well in both cold and hot weather.
- Drink plenty of water. Ice water is great in hot weather. Slightly chilled or room temperature water is good in cold weather.
