Why does my colleagues need for warmth over-ride my need for fresh air - open plan office rant

[sandyballs]

I work in a large open plan office, there are about 30 of us in here. I know this summer has been crap weather wise, loads of rain but it isn't cold is it! It's quite muggy. Whenever I open a window everyone moans and starts putting cardigans on and scarves FFS. What is wrong with them, we need fresh air! There are 30 of us breathing in the same old air and coughing and spluttering.

I opened the window a crack this morning and within 30 seconds a woman looked up from her computer and started complaining about her neck and draughts and leapt up to close it - she was about 25ft away from it! She has got trousers and boots on, a long sleeved top and a fleece .

Driving me mad, I need an office to myself.

I know exactly how you feel! I was like this at work and used to open the windows in the morning when I got in early, and close them before the cold colleagues came in, that way the room got a bit of fresh air! Also I opened the windows beside the copiers and in the kitchenette, it's not ideal but better than sitting in a stuffy office and keeps everyone happy!
Our air con was also a heater and the girls beside me used to put it up to 30 degrees

Well, I have ms. Luckily I don't have to go into an office at all. I am cold all the time, and if I had my way I would be living in a completely different climate. As it is, I have heating on in my house because cold increases my pain, my exhaustion and decreases my ability to think - let alone concentrate. Our house is hot for everyone else, though. I do like fresh air and do air the house every day for up to half an hour while I freeze, but I don't have to work at the same time. If I were expected to work while I shivered I simply wouldn't be able to. I would be more likely to fall asleep. I have been known to cry from cold

I am a fiddler though, and a flute has never attached itself to my face.

(I don't see it as a "dangerous and hateful disease", rather it is a major inconvenience and bloody nuisance.)

i didnt know there was a mild version i guess its because the only real experance i have of it is from watching my sister go in and out of hospital, i guess it explanes why i was so confused as a child to meet someone with it who didnt have any scars on their hands ,they must have thought i was propper weird whilst i was attempting to covertly look for them

YANBU. We had the same in an office where there was only two vents for the air con and our dept was furthest away. It was so hot, I'd literally feel sick with it - yet the people sitting near the air con wouldn't have it on as they got cold. Woudn't put a cardi on either.

Incidently, these were the same that wouldn't park a 3 minute walk away and instead would park on double yellows and keep nipping out the check the wardens weren't coming. They also wouldn't move the departments around because they liked being near the windows - we were shoved in a windowless corner which made it worse!

YANBU! I hate stuffiness too.

Any chance of a promotion OP??

agree with ethelb

Also, what fresh air? Do you work in the Alps? Or is your office in an office block somewhere in a town centre? Why on earth people think air coming through a window up from the car park below is automatically healthy I can't imagine.

Cold person fighting the good fight for cold people everywhere.

I hate hot offices - I get all red in the face and sweaty and it's horrible. Luckily am on mat leave at the moment.

DH is undergoing air con and lighting wars at work - the nutter woman next to him bitches about the noise of the air con so turns it off every morning, while 50 people swelter. I went in the other day and thought I was going to faint in the heat after 10 mins. If it was me there would be a huge argument - I get irrational when I'm hot. And she makes them turn off a whole row of lights, because they make her eyes sore, even though DH had an operation on his cornea a couple of years ago and needs the light to see. They find it easier to pander to her than to argue. Wusses.

In the USA it's all air conditioning and windows closed. Air conditioning is nothing like fresh air at all though, there's something far too plasticy about it.

" The sort of people who probably played the flute at school. You know. That sort."
Spluttered tea all over my keyboard. LOL.

I HATE being hot at work. I worked in a non-air con office, it was soooo muggy, even in winter. I would open windows and one day a new girl really ranted at me for making the office cold. PUT A JUMPER ON LOVE.

YABU I had draghts and would not be able to work if a window was open.

YANBU!!!!!!!
Am with you all the way!!! Where there are lots of people, then you need a degree of FRESH AIR!!!!!!! not recirculated air!!!

If there is no fresh air getting in, then everyone, as I'm sure you pointed out, is just breathing in and out each other's air. And THAT includes, burps and other emissions! Painting a nice picture for anyone???

I'm a primary teacher, and when I point this out to children, they are so disgusted and say please open the window!! Obviously, I phrase it politely and nicely, but I let them know what no fresh air means. And no, I certainly don't freeze them, a lot of them ( age 6) come in with short-sleeved shirts on in the middle of winter!!!

I do say put a jumper on but they always say they are not cold. I can honestly say only one child all year has said she was cold, and it turned out she was coming down with a virus, as she was then off for several days.

Yes, I like to be warm and comfortable, same as anyone, but when I am working, I like to be alert!! And i DON'T want to be breathing in someone else's arse emissions!!!!! (get enough of that at home!)

If you are cold, you can put on something else. If you are too hot, you can only wear so little in the interests of common decency. (I always wear short-sleeved or sleeveless very light, loose tops with lightweight trousers. NEVER wear tights, don't even wear hold-ups any more. I also have sandals to change into at work so that i can remove boots/socks etc in winter or whenever. I can't wear any less than I do)

I know that feeling cold can be horrible, but feeling too hot is worse, IMO. I get really ratty and aggravated, not to mention very sweaty and uncomfortable, despite high strength deodorants/anti-perspirants etc. And no, there is nothing wrong with my metabolism/hormones etc, had them all checked!

I llike to be warm when I'm at home relaxing, but at work, 18- 21C at the most I can tolerate. And I always have a window open, even if it's a top window just slighltly ajar. For FRESH AIR!!!!!!!!!!

YADNBU!!!! I would say more but have had too much wine already and will probably get flamed for this as it is! (on hol, so no danger to pupils tomorrow!)

People who rave about the benefits of fresh air are the same people who drag you on bracing walks on Sunday afternoons or burst into your bedroom at 7.30am when you are staying with them for the weekend shouting: 'Come on lazybones, the best part of the day is nearly over.'

In other words: my MIL.

i'm surprised how many people appear to work in sealed buildings

The fat thing, whilst not neccessarily relevant here, isn't a myth.
Fat insulates. More fat = less body heat lost.

I am totally with u on the DOOR WARS..

its muggy hot - and the perfect conditions for germs to be bred.

Fresh air!!! for goodness sake...same on train carriges etc every one sitting with shiny faces....

for those who get cold in hong kong style humidity - hot water bottle under desk - extra socks - THERMALS, little heater under desk.

People who rave about the benefits of fresh air are the same people who drag you on bracing walks on Sunday afternoons or burst into your bedroom at 7.30am when you are staying with them for the weekend shouting: 'Come on lazybones, the best part of the day is nearly over.'

NOT ME i just like to have fresh air - a window open whereveer I am, I dont go on long walks couldnt think of anything worse on a sunday morning.

DOCTORS WAITING ROOMS!!!

mine is a closed cell with no fresh air, when i mentioned it to the receptionists they said someone was looking into it.....( looking into opening a window?)...beggers belief!

Omg, you're allowed to open windows in your office?! I work for a big insurance company & in a large open plan office where the aircon is not always the most effective. I'm pregnant so get to hav a desk fan, but I would give my eye teeth to be able to open the windows - they're locked in case we all decide we've had enough & make a break for it

I am self employed.

I don't mind the cold.

I am quite thin.

I play the piano and clarinet.

Yes but Ariel but, if you could play the flute if you wanted to, and i think that's really the point here. I really think that

I could play any instrument I turned my hand to

I had this. Colleague was always cold; I was always warm. She was under the vent apparently. I offered to swap desks but apparently my desk position was inferior so she wouldn't do that either... you can't win with some people!

I would rather be too cold than too hot. If I'm too cold I can add another layer but if I am too hot I can't take more than a certain amount off!

I'm a teacher and I'm always opening windows in my room. The ICT suite is the worst as it has bars at the window, makes opening them tricky!

I would usually check with others before opening though.