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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aircon wars.... How can I resolve this?

81 replies

cjt110 · 07/09/2016 11:42

I work in an open office. Generally just me and another colleague with salespeople who drop in/out. I always ask whether it's ok to open a window, or turn the heating on etc. The colleague would ask if it was ok to close the window etc if they got cool.

I am really quite hot and clammy. Partly due to the weather and also due to a health condition I am battling.

I will put air con on to make the room cool. Colleague will wait til I have gone to the loo to turn it off, or just get up and turn it off lately.

I explained yesterday I was really quite hot and I could turn it down if they liked, instead of off. They said, no they wanted it off.

I am sat here, clammy and hot. Have just been to the loo and come back and he's turned it off. I have a floaty cotton top on and leggings. I cannot be any more undressed if I try.

Whilst I know it's not their fault, I think it rude to just switch it off without asking when previously, he has asked. It's now become a bit of a war. Everytime I notice it's not on, it goes back on. Other colleagues who know nothing of this have commented on being up here "Cor, it's a bit warm up here" So it's not just me.

So, WhoIBU and how can I resolve this?

OP posts:
alfagirl73 · 07/09/2016 12:48

I REALLY sympathise with you; I always feel the heat, and without air circulating I feel suffocated. I'd rather put a cardigan or jumper on than turn up the room temperature. To me 22 and 23 degrees is stifling.

Definitely invest in a desk fan. Perhaps have an open conversation about how to make things work better. Is there a spot in the office that is directly underneath an air-con vent? In my office we have air con - I've noticed it's cooler underneath the vents than in my part of the office. So is it possible to consider moving the office around a bit so that your colleague sits in the warmer bit and you in the cooler bit?

I really hate when people do the dramatic passive-aggressive "I'm cold" thing and sit with a big coat on shivering when it's 21 degrees! A colleague of mine used to do that all the time to try and get her way; except her way would've been to have the office at about 40 degrees!

There needs to be compromise from all ends. Need to agree a happy medium of about 21/22 degrees (perfectly adequate). See if there is any way to arrange the office that helps. Then you get a desk fan to ease your comfort and if he's cold, he puts on a jumper or something.

BigTroubleInLittleChina · 07/09/2016 12:49

I think you need to try swapping desks, get a small desk fan etc so at least you have tried to resolve the issue.

Other than that I would keep turning it back on - make it his issue not yours.

We have one like this - its very quiet

Aircon wars.... How can I resolve this?
Original poster
cjt110 · 07/09/2016 13:03

As bonkers as it sounds, Im not sure we're even allowed desk fans because we have the air con. And if we did, I'd have nowhere to put it because we have a lack of plus :(

Im doomed to be a big sweaty mess lol

OP posts:
AmyGDalae · 07/09/2016 13:16

I'm also someone who used to perpetually hot in shared office. Would come in vest top so literally could not do more on my part, but colleague would perpetually whinge if I turned aircon on. It used to make me so angry when she could just put on a bloody sweater. I used to get terrible headaches because it was so hot and stuffy. Resulted in aircon war. In the end I would come in a few mins earlier and completely freeze the place, knowing she would switch it off the second she got the chance. At least that way temperature stayed bearable a bit longer... We are in larger open plan office now and aircon temp is set by company for whole office MUCH better.

sashh · 07/09/2016 13:16

OK because it is a medical condition make a request for a reasonable adjustment.

Then ask your cow orker if he/she wants to punch you in the face, and point out that fiddling with air con is doing the same to you as hitting you.

cherry

A warm breeze doesn't cool anyone down.

I had to move a heater from a student's table in July.

Remember July, the weather was red hot. The student had come in to college with no coat/jumper but insisted she was cold and needed the heater on. I switched it off, she put it back on again.

JudyCoolibar · 07/09/2016 13:46

If you are in the UK, it's really not that hot, and unfair on other people.

What a bizarre thing to say. My non air-conditioned office is currently 26 degrees with the windows open, blinds down and a fan going. During the very hot spells we had it was going well over 30 degrees. That's well over my maximum comfortable temperature of 23 degrees. I would kill for air conditioning.

milkyface · 07/09/2016 13:58

I'm on mat leave but I have this prob at work. Only two of us in our office, I am the cold one, however in summer I am partial to a breeze. Our window does not open.

We have an air con unit which I am not allowed to turn on unless I'm on my own because it gives my colleague a sore throat. its definitely the air con I have on about 5 days a year not the 40 fags a day

So on the few hot days we have I would wait until colleagues break and absolutely blast out cold air for 15 mins which was shit because my paperwork went flying but it was my only option.

In winter am freezing but not allowed main radiator on because it's too hot. Have my own mini radiator under my desk Grin

Get him a plug in radiator and a hot water bottle and turn the air con on.

It's shit when you work with someone completely temperature incompatible. Is that a thing?!

Inyournightdress · 07/09/2016 13:58

Where are you sat in relation to the aircon compared to your colleague. I remember being in an office and everyone complaining it was too hot but because I was literally in the aircons 'path' it was blowing on me directly and was freezing.

bloomburger · 07/09/2016 14:02

Oooh hit him really hard.

Sorry this is a moot subject with me. I had a woman sit next to the window when I designed an office layout because she demanded to be sat there then on really hot days refuse to open the window exclaiming really loudly she wasn't as hot as the rest of us because she was so thin!

Buy a huge fan and aim it so he gets a draft too!

Original poster
cjt110 · 07/09/2016 14:09

Inyournightdress I am pretty much directly under the path of the unit. He is about 6 or so foot away and there is no breeze blowing onto his desk - I stood there when he went out to check.

milkyface There are plenty of heaters in the cupboard he could use if he so wishes Grin

OP posts:
milkyface · 07/09/2016 14:41

I would take one (or all of them) put it next to his desk and write a passive aggressive note on it then turn the air con on and hide the remote.

Or stick a post it on the air con unit saying 'currently broken and stuck on (your preferred temp) awaiting repair. Do not touch.'

Toddlerteaplease · 07/09/2016 14:44

At least you have air con. I work 13 hour shifts and the temperature is never below 28 degrees!

atticusclaw2 · 07/09/2016 14:47

Would wearing a skirt/dress help? I know I'm always warmer in leggings than in a skirt.

I have to say I sympathise with him. There is not much worse than being really cold. You can't not think about it.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 07/09/2016 14:52

I really hate when people do the dramatic passive-aggressive "I'm cold" thing and sit with a big coat on shivering when it's 21 degrees!

Why is that passive aggressive? If I'm cold, I'm cold, I don't do it for effect!

KittensDoNotLikeFluffyBlankets · 07/09/2016 14:55

Part of what's a bit funny us that it is usually men wanting it cooler and women wanting it warmer- something to do with body mass. DH like 20-21, I like 22-23, so we set it at 21.5. Sometimes we set it warmer and he wears shorts, sometimes cooler and I wear my puffa coat!

I think he's being a bit unreasonable though.

Once worked in an office with no air on and it was 30 every day. I got some of those water sprays to spritz my legs and some of those free able gel packs (for picnic bags). Popped some of the blocks under my desk, wrapped in a plastic bag, and sat with my feet on them. Other blocks were chilling in the ice box in the office fridge. When one set got warmed up, swapped em over (sans bag for hygiene). Really worked. So does running cold water over wrists.

Original poster
cjt110 · 07/09/2016 15:02

atticusclaw2 Nope. Have been wearing frocks for the last 2 weeks.

OP posts:
hudyerwheesht · 07/09/2016 15:03

Why is that passive aggressive? If I'm cold, I'm cold, I don't do it for effect!

Agreed! I'm not being a drama queen but if I have several layers on and still feel like I'm sitting in a cold draught then I'm allowed to complain about it. There are only so many jumpers I can physically wear (including the one wrapped around my legs) - plus it's horrible to have to commute into work with thick tights,etc on when it's lovely and sunny.

The problem with the correct temperature setting is that it doesn't take into account where you are in relation to the unit(s). It may well be the "optimum" temperature in the middle of the office but if you're the poor sod sat near the unit you will have icy cold air blasting very near you.

I do think, however, OP that if you have a medical condition that you absolutely need to move and/or get a desk fan.

Skyler30 · 07/09/2016 15:19

cjt110 Have now bumped it back up to 23 and see what he does

Hmmm, it strikes me that you are the childish one here, it seems you’re a bit of a trouble maker on the sly aren’t you?

You started off saying you wanted it on because you were Hot and Clammy later on you finally admit Its not whether it’s on or off that’s bothering me it’s the childish turning it off when I’m not around

So there we finally have it, YOU are the Boss of the Aircon and the poor guy you work with has crossed a line that he probably didn’t know was there, in that he dared to knock off the Aircon without asking you! - So you start off with your holier than though post when all you’re doing is playing the childish game of cranking it up to 23 just to see what he does….!!! Pathetic!!!!

I bet you’re a nightmare to work with and my sympathies are with your poor colleague.

Mermaidsandbutterflies · 07/09/2016 15:32

Ooh this is a difficult one - in my office there is one chap who likes to have it on artic blast constantly - the air con unit is right above my head so I get the full blast of it. If I turn it up slightly he turns it down again.

This is the same person that will wear shorts and a tshirt in the middle of winter so he likes it very very cold.

It annoys me because in the middle of summer I cant wear nice summery clothes like dresses etc, I have to wear jeans, 2 tshirts, thick jumper and gloves and then remove jumper and gloves when I leave but still melt in the heat outside. Makes me get ill aswell and I get the same problems as others have mentioned, dry eyes, sore throat, headache etc.

In your case I would suggest a fan as others have said - its horrible being freezing cold especially air con cold seems to have an icy chill to it.

NeonPinkNails · 07/09/2016 15:42

Sore subject for me I'm afraid, our aircon is right above my head so I'm constantly freezing at work although not normally a particularly cold person. It also dries my lenses out and generally makes me feel shit. I don't see what's wrong with opening a window but nobody ever seems to do that.

Thing is though you have to have compromise in a working environment and people need to behave like grow ups - PA whinging and aircon games won't solve anything!

Ryooki · 07/09/2016 16:17

I need to correct my original post as I made a couple of errors (I'm blaming my baby brain and being in a rush though!):

CIBSE Guide A (section 1.4 if you'd like to cross reference for yourselves) suggests that a general or open plan office should have a temperature of between 21 and 23 in the winter and between 22 and 24 in the summer. This also factors in the necessity that the occupants of the office are wearing suitable clothes for said weather conditions.

Also it is documented in CIBSE Guide B that the effectiveness of any air-con system is deemed by the end users based on as many of all the following points:

— The velocity of air adjacent to any uncovered or lightly covered skin (e.g. neck and ankles).
— Temperature of air stream in relation to the that of still air adjacent to other parts of the body.
— The level of activity taking place.
— The occupants’ clothing.
— The purity of air in the breathing zone.
— The individual’s susceptibility and acclimatisation.
— The appearance and positioning of any ventilation devices or openings.

I would like to note that if you have a medical condition then your employer can take steps to grant you individual control over your thermal environment, i.e. putting a fan/ heater on your desk, but only if it is practical to do so. They are under no legal obligation to do this though.

One overall point to note (no matter who's 'in the wrong' here) is that an air conditioning's primary function is to provide comfort cooling. What is comfortable to one person is not comfortable to the next. This is why recommendations are made regarding temperatures and settings but they are not law. You cannot please everyone or ever keep everyone happy! Instead you need to behave like adults and find a happy medium that suits you both without the need to keep fiddling with the controls behind each others backs. That is just petty and you know it!

Yours sincerely,
An exasperated HVAC engineer.

P.s. Air-con systems are also used to de-humidify the air where necessary, so wherever this has been deemed necessary and subsequently implemented you will find it does affect you in ways such as making your eyes or throat dry. It's technically doing its job, albeit perhaps a little too well. Again, you can't please everyone...

t4nut · 07/09/2016 16:23

I had a similar battle. In the end it came down to my statement that either they put more clothes on or I take some more off, and no one really wants to see that.

They put a jacket on.

PhoebeGeebee · 07/09/2016 16:23

I sit directly under the air con vent. I wear jumpers and cardigans on the hottest days of the year but that doesn't stop it giving me a painful crick in my neck as that's where it blows. Oh, and on my hands too. Can't type in gloves!!!

FrancisCrawford · 07/09/2016 16:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GemmaWella81 · 07/09/2016 16:30

So he's a dick for turning it off on the sly?....

Yet somehow I think if he asked you to turn it off you'd say no anyway, so that leaves him with turning it off of his own accord.

You both sound petty and childish, both reasonable to want to work in a comfortable temperature, both unreasonable for making a drama over it. It's not his problem you're lame in warmer weather, and likewise it's not your fault he feels the cold.