people that demand the ac must be on 18 on cloudy not warm days

[marieinlondon]

I only work part time in an office. The work is OK, but I just can't stand the ac. I'm the only slim one in the room and throughout the summer I have to wear a jumper and scarf as its freezing as my larger colleagues all like it turned right down to 18 even on days when there is a cool breeze outside all the windows are shut and we just have stale cold dry air. Does anyone else have this problem?

[Kayakwonder]

YABU. As PPs have said it is easier and more appropriate for you to add a sweater than it is for your colleagues to strip down. In my office the windows don't open and several colleagues originally from a hot country constantly turn off the AC. It results in me having to wear a sleeveless blouse on warm days, which feels unprofessional. I am slim too, doesn't mean I don't get hot- I think the size issue is a red herring.

[marieinlondon]

Wow I'm not suggesting we make the room hot! On most days it would be just a fine temp with the windows open. On hot days I suggest a compromise to have the windows open until it gets hot then switch to ac. I'm about compromise not dictatorship.

[marieinlondon]

And about the temp if the the most at is set at 18, it makes my desk about 15-16 as I'm under the unit. I shouldn't have to wear fingerless gloves in the office.

[ACSlater]

I've learned there's no point arguing about it. I had 3 cardigans and a blanket wrapped around me the other day and it was still cold. I was still told to "put another layer on". I couldn't actually do any work. My manager is aware it affects my performance and still refuse to do anything.

[DadfromUncle]

YANBU, 18's too cold. 22 ish is comfortable, but anything more and I start to melt and I can't concentrate - which is fine for lying on a sunlounger, but not for work.

Also, many folk, esp on trains etc don't seem to realise that as soon as you open the window, you may as well turn off the aircon as it's not going to work.

If the aircon is a proper system, the "dry stale air" problem shouldn't exist - although it is nice to remove some humidity on "close" days.

[RandomMess]

I don't like Air Con but I am always overheating in part due to medication but the loud complainer in our office is ALWAYS cold but doesn't seem to think it sensible to wear layers. Then comments on the fact I'm not wearing tights. Doesn't seem to get that I literally am sweltering hot...

[meglet]

yanbu. ours kicks in at 20 degrees outside. We've been in cardies and scarves. it's hard to type with cold hands.

I'd bloody ban air con in offices in this country. We get a week of proper heat a year, there's no need to pump out cold air on people sitting down.

[RandomMess]

What makes me laugh is that they want the spot by the non-double glazed windows, the coldest bit of the room...

[SirChenjin]

It drives me absolutely up the wall. I work between 2 offices, and one is worse than the other - I have to wear warm 'winter' clothes to work, while outside is warmer than inside. Really, really hate the obsession some people have with only working in cold offices - it's impossible to concentrate when you're freezing.

[NewFlipFlops]

YANBU and sympathy, OP. 22 degrees is a reasonable indoor temperature, it's difficult/impossible to work in 18 degrees.

[RobotHamster]

Wear a bloody jumper then. It's not like the 'larger' people who are boiling hot can strip down to nothing, is it?

Can you swap desks? Other bits of the office might be much warmer

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

I was going to make the same suggestion as RobotHamster - can you switch desks with one of the people who feels the heat more?

[SirChenjin]

Why should we have to wear a "bloody jumper" to go to work (esp in the summer), just because someone has decided that they can only work in a freezing office?? Swapping desks is not possible - offices don't work like that.

[RobotHamster]

Because if you're a bit cold you can put a layer on. If I'm boiling hot (pg) I can't exactly sit there in my bra and pants.

[RobotHamster]

Our office is never freezing though. 8 people, computers, printers all chucking out heat. If the thermostat is set to 19 then it's bearable until lunchtime but then it gets sweaty and horrible

[TheCatsFlaps]

I worked with a "larger" lady, well, she was obscenely fat. We all had to suffer through many a freezing cold afternoon because she had a sweat on. Typing or writing with gloves on is not possible, and stepping outside in a fucking jumper was an open invitation to sweating like a p-i-g.

[SirChenjin]

A bit cold? So, warm socks, thick shoes, tights under trousers, a bloody jumper, gloves, hats, scarves? Yeah, that'll be right - exactly what I want to wear to work when it's 20 degrees outside and the office is freezing thanks to vicious air con. If you're so hot in an office, try cold drinks, cold water bottles, loose cotton clothes...

[Millipedewithherfeetup]

Op you are definitely not unreasonable, i could of written your post, i go to work on a lovely summers day get in my office and the cold air hits me like an artic storm, i feel like crying some days, i wear jumpers and scarves, my feet feel like they are going to fall off , my back is directly in line with the ac unit, so even with these layers on my head and ears are so cold i feel numb, ive asked the others in the office to swap desks with me but its always a no as they like being by the window/copier/kitchen or whatever they all laugh at me when i try and tell tbem how cold i am, usually get told im too thin and need to get some more meat on my bones, i am not too bloody thin, i am a healthy weight with no excess fat and am fed up with overweight people getting too hot and making my working life miserable.

[RobotHamster]

Oh dfod, I said nothing of the sort. I said a layer. Not arctic gear

[RobotHamster]

Cold drinks and loose cool clothing... Damn, if only I'd thought of that. I've been wearing my thermals.

[SirChenjin]

Then that's where you've been going wrong - what you actually need is a bloody jumper as opposed to thermals. See, if you're going to give out 'helpful' advice be prepared to take some in return.

[RobotHamster]

Obviously an office shouldn't be freezing cold to the point where people are shivering. Clearly. I don't think anybody disagrees with that.

In our office I'm on the side away from the air con and it's fucking boiling. The side with the air con is colder, obviously. Of course, the people who feel the cold are on that side, and refuse to allow the air con on, while the rest of us shelter.

Eventually we switched desks, everybody much happier. For some reason there was a lot of resistance though.

[RobotHamster]

Again..

[RobotHamster]

You're obviously very very angry about air con SirC. I suppose the rage might warm you up a bit though.

[meglet]

we do wear vests, socks and cardies in summer because of the air con. it's still uncomfortable.

Some of us have hot water bottles to keep our laps and backs warm. it's a really unproductive way to run an office because we're all ratty and miserable.