What to Do If the Office Is Too Cold
Remember in the summer in your office building, the air conditioner was running down to stupid low temperatures, and you had to wear a hat? Remember how we thought: “At least in winter they will warm up the heat”? We remember thinking about it at Lifehacker. What a fun surprise to know that our office is also cold in winter! Now we know what “O sweet summer child” means!
If you also work in a draft-ridden office, or if you have a stingy boss or landlord, here are some tips based on the personal experiences of Lifehacker employees.
Talk to your boss
In most cases, your office may be warmer, but one of the executives decided not to raise the temperature. If that someone is part of your company, you need to gather everyone in your office who feels the same way. Present a united front, rather than a bunch of individual complaints, to make it harder to dismiss your problem. Assess the potential for collective action to improve workplace conditions.
Show your boss this Cornell study that says raising temperatures to 70 reduces employee errors by 44% and increases productivity by 150%. This is just one particular study of typing speed, but it sounds like science so it’s hard to argue with it. The bosses are eating this shit.
Maybe your office manager is to blame for this stinginess; if so, carefully discuss the matter with your supervisor. Chances are, as is the case with at least one new media company in Manhattan, your office manager is an angel of light and does whatever it takes to keep your office comfortable. If so, ask them how you can hand them over to your boss or whoever is in charge of temperature control.
Trick the thermostat
Maybe the thermostat is not in your hands. Maybe he’s literally physically locked in a cage! Slap a Ziploc ice pack onto the thermostat to keep it on while bravely trying to raise the temperature to a soft 67. Don’t get caught.
To tie
I mean, you know how to keep warm. Hat, sweater, blanket on the knees. Use more layers instead of thicker layers. Fingerless gloves keep your hands flexible; Get a thin pair, because thick ones will make your arms too clumsy, defeating the target.
Try underpants. Old Navy has thin ones that sell for ten bucks in the store. But these $ 8 Alki’i Fleece Lined Womens Winter Leggings are only $ 8 and are very comfortable for all genders.
Buy a compact space heater that can be hidden under a table. Wirecutter recommends this $ 33 heater from Lasko or this $ 35 heater from Honeywell . The Air & Water appliance store lists the smaller models , noting which ones have which safety features.
Check local laws
If your workplace isn’t cold enough to cause injury, OSHA won’t help you. An OSHA spokesman told us, “OSHA has a ‘general duty’ clause requiring a safe environment. Unfortunately, there is no specific temperature control for the room. However, we have rules that talk about excessive heat or excessive cold. When it comes to cold or heat, we only intervene when it’s a safety issue. ”
According to their website , “OSHA does not require employers to provide heating or air conditioning for workplaces. OSHA recommends temperature control in the 68–76 ° F range. “
If your workplace is cold enough to hurt you, you can call OSHA at 1-800-321-6742. You can ask them to remain anonymous. But if you are uncomfortable all day, OSHA cannot help you.
Check local and state regulations. For example, in New York, home to Lifehacker, building managers must heat tenants’ premises to 68 degrees during the day and 62 degrees at night. Fines range from $ 250 to $ 1,000 per day .
If your office is really very warm, thank you, please let us know so that we can forward this chain to our bosses.