to ask for the window to be opened?

[cofingalthetime]

So there is a colleague in the "window seat" but she won't have the window open - she says it's too noisy. Being of a 'certain age' with a tendency to hot flushes, and also not like sitting in a stuffy room with 5 other people, aibu to ask her to open it? I've asked before and she just says no it's too noisy. (it's not that noisy IMO). Wish I had the window seat :(

You need to be more insistent. Ask her why if it's so noisy with the window open she chooses to sit there. Is it to police other people's access to fresh air? Tell her she'll just have to put up with the noise for a bit as you NEED the stuffiness in the room to be reduced. Offer to swap seats.Don't just back down when she's obstructive. Keep pressing for it.

And raise it with the manager.

Annoying as it is, I guess her need for quiet is as valid as your need for fresh air. Swapping places won't help as the noise will carry. Asking work for a fan is probably the best solution. You can get almost silent fans and constant low noise is easier to tune out than random street noises. It's also more "localised" temperature control than opening a window so your need to be cool doesn't affect people who feel the cold.

If there are 5 of you could you have an "office meeting" to agree a solution that works for everyone. Say open for x amount of time mid morning and mid afternoon. If 4 of you want it open and she wants it closed it's harder for her to object. Or ask her to pick whichever annoys her least - door or window but it has to be one of them.

On another note though, are you sure you're allowed to? We aren't allowed to open the windows in the office because it messes with the (frankly awful!) air conditioning.

She needs to swap seats then, and buy earplugs if everything is too noisy for her.

She needs to swap seats then, and buy earplugs if everything is too noisy for her.

Get your line manager to review seating arrangements vs natural ventilation on grounds on thermal comfort for all plus covid risk reduction.

You both want different things. You're not going to agree.

Make this your line manager's problem to sort out - that's why they get paid more.

I have red worked in an office with windows that open for about 20 years, Jude manky recirculated freezing cold air conditioned air...

I'd be fighting for the window seat. I'm wfh today, it's posing with rain but I've still hit the window open.

You are not going to agree. Her reasons are as valid as yours. Can you swap desks? Get a fan? I’m a menopausal woman and I would hate to be sat next to an open window - too cold, too draughty, too noisy, glare on the screen? Earplugs wouldn’t work for many jobs -mine included. We also aren’t allowed to open the windows.