Just put some bloody clothes on if you're cold....

[woolythoughts]

Just that.

Air conditioning wars.

Office I work in is run by a south american, has two Italians, and a lot of British hot house flowers.

The temperature regularly gets up to 27/28 in here (its an all glass building) but within five minutes of turning the air con on, all we get is "its cold".

Me and one other person are working in light cotton trousers and light vests - nothing else. We literally cannot take any more clothes off and be decent. We have mini personal desk fans which help a little.

The problem doesn't end in winter though. Then they want to crank the heating up to 28 and we'd be quite happy with the window open -but we are willing to compromise at 22. But thats not warm enough apparently.

So we have to suffer feeling ill and tired just because they don't want to wear a cardigan in summer.

This is one of those things where somebody is always going to be unhappy. In my office there are a lot of people who like to have the windows open and I sit right by a window. I often find it far too cold because it blows directly on me (I agree it's the blowing that is the issue, not so much the temperature). I have a big woolly jumper which I wear but I can't type in gloves and it's my fingers that get stiff and cold, so it's really not as simple as 'just put on more clothes'.

However I agree that 27 is ridiculous. Offices should be set at a temperature that suits the average human (not the average man as I have heard is common). Putting on a jumper is not too much to ask of someone. If it's got to the point that they need gloves, a hat, a space heater... well I'd say that's not so reasonable.

It's not like the UK ever has really hot days anyway!
Speak for yourself. 20 degrees and above is too hot for me.

then you do need an outdoor job, it's not reasonable to expect the majority to live and function at a cold temperature in an office. My house thermostat is set at 20 C in the winter, and we all wear jumpers and have winter duvets.

My kids are used to put layers in the winter when they need them, and they never suffer from the "heat" in this country when the temperature goes up a bit and we have a 28c "heatwave".

It's not just the temperature, and it does feel cold when you are sitting for hours at a time, but air con is unhealthy.

Fans are just a gimmick turning warm air around,but they are not that bad. Unfortunately, in most offices I have seen , people who tend to complain about the heat also tend to be overweight, whilst very slim people feel the cold a lot more. I am far from skinny and still refuse to work in a fridge!

I hate air conditioning. I don't see why its necessary in this country, except say hospitals or where people with complex medical conditions live. Luckily, there is none in our office and we have to open the windows in the summer, when its too hot.

For those of us, who really feel the cold, just putting more layers on, does not work. Its only like me saying to those of you whinging about how hot it is

"Can't you just put up with it?"

Jumpers and winter duvets with a temperature of 20 degrees sounds unusual to me. The ideal temperature for sleep is 16 to 18 degrees.

Don't like your wee dig about people's weight, bit uncalled for. I think people need to be a bit more educated about the effects of the menopause to be honest.

I think you are a bit U.

Being cold is so horrible, and air conditioning cold can have a bite to it that putting on another layer just doesn't satisfy. Plus having to cart loads of layers to worl with you in the summer is a pain. Plus it's hard to type or write with a jacket on.

Maybe try opening the windows in summer rather than the freezing cold aircon. I can't concentrate if I'm too cold and it just completely undermines any sense of wellbeing.

My house thermostat is set at 20 C in the winter, and we all wear jumpers and have winter duvets.

That doesn't sound the norm to me. But then I don't even have winter duvets, I use mid-level all year around, and just use blankets in the summer if need be. I'm also not overweight etc. I've always been this way, since a child. I dread summer, and I dread holidays to hotter countries even more! Take me to Norway.

Fair enough on the menopause side (I have to say the point about the weight is also accurate in my experience but of course I've always kept that thought to myself :)) but then we should focus on making this individual comfortable: desk fan etc they do cooling mats for dogs - what about office workers?? - and not making everyone else cold, especially with something as unhealthy as the aircon.

What would you wish me to do when I can't work and my fingers are turning blue because I'm so cold?

See a dr? If your fingers are turning blue in the temps the OP is talking about, them you maybe need checked out.

(I'm not even menopausal yet! I'm in my early 20s! Now I'm dreading that too...)

yanbu, 28 is far too hot and most workplaces would not be that that hot.

Then again, sorry for multiple posts, I think I might have messed up my inner thermostat somehow by always going out in short shorts in the winter as a teen wouldn't do it now though.

I'm not sure why everyone keeps labeling aircon as unhealthy! Plenty of countries use it as standard with no ill effects! How does having windows open help when the temperature is 28 outside with no breeze??

What irritated me at my last office is the people sitting under the air con would complain so I offered to switch desks with them and got "no, I like this desk" so I have to suffer the ill effects of the heat because they won't move desks?

When I have already had to travel on a boiling hot tube for an hour then yes I would like some respite in the office. As a pp said, its a workplace not a Mediterranean holiday! One of the reasons I left my last office was that they had no air con at all and I knew I wouldn't be able to work in those temperatures all summer long.

My dad was in prison, in remand, for 6 months when he was young (nothing sinister, business related and him being naive) - apparently it was pretty cold there - somehow it meant that after that stint he didn't feel the cold much for 20odd years after that. Used to go skiing (cross country skiing) with a shirt on, maybe a cardigan in extreme circumstances. Now he is older and he is much more likely to feel cold. He was never bothered by the heat either though...

I worked in a building of 400 people where the aircon was my responsibility. I sent an email out at Easter stating that during the summer months the aircon would be permanently set at 22 degrees. I suggested that staff bring additional layers if they might find that too cold. I had around ten complaints so I found a scientific article stating that the best temperature for maximum productivity in an office environment was 22 degrees, and sent it to them. I also set the vents so cold air blew out sideways across the ceiling rather than straight down at the desks. Seemed to help a lot. It's a nightmare trying to keep everyone happy though.

I hate the aircon! I wouldn’t mind if it just reduced the temperature to around 19-20 degrees, but it never does. It always makes the office feel like the fucking Arctic. I don’t want to bring wool jumpers, scarfs and gloves with me in the middle of summer because some people feel like they can only work with the aircon on max. Buy a personal fan!

I suffer from Raynaurds and it can be hell. I DO layer up but sometimes when I am having a bad attack (especially in the winter), there are just not enough layers that can be worn.

The current theory at work is that it is officially warm as I only have a long sleeve shirt on with T-shirt underneath and am wearing trousers rather than thermal tights!

I have found that people see their need to be cool as trumping my right not to be cold. I would be happy with a compromise but it seems that if aircon goes on, arctic is the only acceptable setting.

My house thermostat is set at 20 C in the winter, and we all wear jumpers and have winter duvets.

I couldn't stand being that cold! Ours is set to 24-25 in winter, although in my defence we live in an end terrace maisonette with no insulation and the living room is never warm even in summer as it doesn't get any sun.

Is Your AC Making You Sick? 5 Things You Need to Know

1. Breathing problems When air conditioners are not cleaned thoroughly and filters changed, a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria and fungi is created. These systems especially can be home to black mold, as moisture can build up in the coils and ducts from condensation that forms when the cool air passes through. When these microorganisms go air-borne, they can lead to a multitude of breathing problems, including a potentially fatal infectious pneumonia, Legionnaire’s disease, caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila.

Remedy: Make sure your air conditioning systems are cleaned regularly and the filter changed every few months.

2. Fatigue, headaches and generally feeling ill Many individuals find that after a day of work, they often feel more tired than usual, headachy and a general sense of malaise. They also find that once they leave the building, the symptoms often resolve. Sometimes termed “sick building syndrome,” it may be that air conditioning may be the cause. In a study published in the Aug. 19, 2004 International Journal of Epidemiology, people working in office buildings with central air conditioning had more symptoms of illness than those who did not work in buildings with central air.

Remedy: Raise the temperature slightly so that you are not shivering and take regular breaks to step outside for fresh air and for your body temperature to equilibrate.

3. Getting contaminated The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is warning us that we may be more exposed to pollutants inside than outside, especially because central air conditioning does not bring in fresh air but circulates old air. This means that if there is mold, dust, animal dander or other people in the building have viruses or air-borne infections, individuals are more prone to be exposed and get sick.

Remedy: Some systems are built to a low in a “leak” from the outside. You can create your own leak by cracking open a window even slightly.

4. Dry skin The more time you spend in an air-conditioned environment, the dryer your skin may become, as the cold, dry air can cause your skin to lose its moisture. Your hair may suffer such ill effects as well.

Remedy: Get a great moisturizer!

5. Visiting the doctor more often Studies have shown that that individuals who spend more time in air-conditioned environments have an increased use of health care services. An analysis found more visits for complaints related to ears-nose-and throat problems, respiratory and dermatological problems. There were also an increased number of sickness absences.

Remedy: Do all of the above and ensure that other aspects of the room or car are thoroughly cleaned, like carpets, curtains and the like.

www.huffingtonpost.com/eva-m-selhub-md/air-conditioning-health_b_7233810.html?guccounter=1

You can't assume that the person who's too cold can "just put on more clothes". I have a medical condition which means that, if I'm cold, circulation is withdrawn from my hands, arms, feet and legs to ensure that my core organs are warm enough, so putting on a jumper would simply mean that my core would overheat while my hands and feet turned blue. For me, the ideal temperature is 23/24 degrees.

Aircons may be used all over the world but it doesn't make them healthy!
When we were in the Middle East everyone constantly had really nasty chest infections. I've never been so ill so frequently, in the UK I seldom even get a cold.

Wasnt there a news report that said air cons in offices were sexist because they were too low for most women and right for men?

I hate being cold so i sympathise with your coworkers. Even in summer boiling outside i have to take a thick cardigan to work because the air con is put on like the antarctic at work. One of my coworkers is horrible and she frequently sneers and tells me to put more clothes on if im cold but the air con is bloody ridiculous at work.

Im also one of these ear nose throat and chest and skin problem people who suffer under air con and heating. Its very frustrating. Air con should be enough to cool the room so it feels like summer but not humid and lile an oven. Air con is not supposed to feel like december indoors.

YANBU!!
I love the heat and am a naturally warm person. But some offices get to be oven like. Once worked in an office with 1 big window and the only ventilation. One of the 2 window seats (deemed the best seats) was claimed by someone who saw themselves as superior (but wasn’t) and couldn’t stand drafts. This was in a hospital so constantly very warm and we were only allowed to open the window for fresh air for time limited periods. Everyone else had regularly go and breathe in the corridor to escape the fog
Ugh!

No, your colleagues shouldn't have to wear a jumper in the office.

Well, I don't think the colleagues who are uncomfortably hot should have to wear light cotton trousers and light vests to make the temperature bearable. What's so terrible about wearing a jumper? A light jumper, not a massive woolly polo-neck number, should be sufficient even for 'chilly' people at 22 degrees (barring medical conditions, and I suspect that not every one of the OP's colleagues has one).

I am a chilly person, FWIW, and feel the cold worse than a lot of people I know; but I'd rather wear warmer clothes than be too warm and lethargic.

Not sure about an easy summer solution...

As for winter?

Just take some clothes off?

The problem doesn't end in winter though. Then they want to crank the heating up to 28 and we'd be quite happy with the window open -but we are willing to compromise at 22. But thats not warm enough apparently.

I really doubt you'd still feel hot if you simply wore a vest and light trousers in summer?

And they probably wouldn't feel good if it was at s comfortable 25....

But this is probably ultimately a case of the "majority rules".