Thermal Debate in the Workplace Runs Hot and Cold

Thermal Debate in the Workplace Runs Hot and Cold
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The Battleground

Nina in building operations knows where the treasure is and has the keys to get to it. The plan is for her officemates to set up a distraction so she can slip in and out unseen. When the trap is set, she waits until the coast is clear, scampers to the secret location hidden in the back corner of a supply room, and captures the enemy’s flag: setting the thermostat warmer so she and her fellow female employees don’t freeze in the full blasting air conditioning.

Bob pulls at his tie, getting uncomfortable in his meeting despite his short-sleeved shirt, and as his brow becomes damp, he realizes why: someone monkeyed with the temperature of the building. The moment his meeting is concluded, he rushes to the supply room, and sure enough, it’s warmer than he’d set it that morning as the building’s manager. He doesn’t care if the argument for lowering HVAC expenses gets repeated. If people can’t work comfortably, a few dollars saved on utilities doesn’t make up for lack of productivity when employees are too hot. He pulls out his keys, unlocks the safety case around the device, and lowers it to a comfortable level, hoping when he returns to his desk, his email hasn’t exploded with complaints.

While this is a dramatization, it’s a common office feud, and each side is pretty evenly split by gender. It strains interoffice relationships and has the potential to tank productivity. A few degrees’ swing in either direction, and half the building’s occupants are uncomfortable and lethargic from either being too hot and sweaty, or shivering and wearing layers despite the calendar reading July.  For many offices, it’s the quintessential question: in the mercury wars, who’s right, Team Put On a Sweater, or Team Bring a Personal Fan?

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The Science

Technically, both sides are right. Office temperature directly affects productivity. A study by CareerBuilder shows more than half of all surveyed employees can’t work as well in a chilly environment. Cornell University conducted research into actual efficiency of employees and found fewer typing errors when the office temp was set at 77F, with an error rate of 10%. With the temperature set to 68F, that rate jumped to 25%. Further research suggests warmer temperatures positively impact feelings of trust and empathy, which encourages interoffice connections.
Women’s body chemistry is different from men’s, and the conventional wisdom of a cooler office (below 70F) being better for employees was born out of the middle of the 20th century, when fewer women were in the workforce. Women’s metabolic rate is lower than men’s, leading to slightly higher percentages of body fat, which makes female office workers more sensitive to cold than men. The ratio of men to women in the office may need to be considered to find the ideal atmosphere in which everyone can comfortably work.

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