WIBU to ask her to close the window?

[ruralliving19]

I work in a shared office but most of the time it's just me and 1 or 2 other people in.

1 of the other people sits by the window and every day she opens the window really wide and then sits there with a blanket round her.

It's freezing but the Brit in me doesn't like to ask her to close it!

WIBU to ask her to close it?

she opens the window really wide and then sits there with a blanket round her.
What kind of madness is that in this weather? Have you tried asking her about it or even telling her you are freezing?

I would just tell her to close the window. She is evidently as cold with the window open as you are. If she wants fresh air she can take a walk at lunchtimes and/or breaks.

She isn't otherwise being overpowered by perfume or aftershave of the other staff is she?

Do you smell?

Ask her what she's doing? Why on earth wouldn't you?

“Close the window please - it’s freezing in here. Thanks.”

No overpowering smells in the office that I'm aware of, if relevant she's from another European country, I don't know if they have a culture of fresh air more than us! I really don't get the open the window then wrap a blanket round yourself thing and most people ask before they open a window but she just opens it as soon as she gets in.

Yy “close the window please it’s freezing in here”

Is she making a point (about smells)? It sounds like you don't think this applies. Is she concerned about catching a cold or something? If neither of the above it's very odd (and selfish) behaviour.

It's very normal in Norway to open the office windows even through the dead of winter, it freshens the air and keeps everyone more alert. That said, it's really unreasonable to have them open more than 15 minutes in a row. Ask her to shut it again!

Clearly she knows everyone else will be cold if she needs to put a blanket over herself, can't believe no one has told her to close it, come on OP get a backbone!

I have now asked her politely to 'close the window a little' and she gave a little sniff and then closed it!

Good for you OP! Now do it every day :D I'd let her have a grace period of ten minutes of window open time when she gets in and then pounce! "Bloody hell, June, it's practically arctic in here! Did you bring a blanket for everyone or are you going to close that portal to the north pole?"

I had this problem too in my previous job.
I always asked kindly to close the window as I was feeling cold and we usually made the compromise that if it would get too hot, the window would open again until it got too cold again

Is she Austrian?
Sounds like something the Austrian side of our family would do. If so you need to be VERY direct, subtle won’t work

I totally get where she is coming from.

I HAVE to have a fresh air source - if I can't it drives me map. Obviously I don't die without one but if I was in her shoes I'd probably be doing the same (Well I wouldn't as I don't feel the cold so wouldn't have the blanket)

Was it a sniff like sniffing the air because of a smell? A "turn your nose up" sniff as if she was put out by your request, or a sniff as if she has a runny nose/was sick?

I know if i have a fever i need fresh air and blankets but she shouldn't be in work if she's ill and shouldn't be making everyone else cold. Someone needs to be direct and say "please don't open that for more than 5 mins because noone else has a blanket and we're too cold"

Yabu not using your voice before now
How hard is it to ask someone to close the window?!

Fresh air and blankets sounds perfect for home but I can’t get my head around taking a blanket into work.

(Are you sure you don’t smell?)

Maybe she is frightened of picking up colds and coughs in a stuffy office. She is entitled to that view, but you too are entitled to be warm enough to work.

Can you gold a conversation with her about why exactly she needs the window open?

I am sitting here with a window open, cold and windy outside, nice and fresh.

I also have the heating on and a throw over part of me.

It helps me to breathe, freshens the house and helps with static build up, also keeps me awake after a bad night. However, I will close the window in a while (when the smell of burnt toast has gone off).

Fresh air is good, but wearing a blanket all day with the window open is just weird, unless you smell - perfume or those scented pads maybe, not implying you are unclean but some perfumes are a bit strong/sickly/overpowering and the wearer is nose blind due to being used to the smell.