Dear Marge,
I work in a large open plan office, which for reasons beyond me, always seems to be superheated to a minimum of about 25 degrees and gets much, much, higher in the summer. Far too hot and stuffy for my liking and that of many of my colleagues too.
We seem firmly divided into those of us sweating our cods off and one or two women who are always complaining they are cold regardless of the actual temperature. These women tend to wear strappy little tops year round I would add and eat like mice.
On occasion, usually when the main offender is out and about, I sometimes dare to open a window to get 10 minutes fresh air in the office only to watch as 30 seconds later one of them walks back in and closes it without first checking whether anyone else would mind. They have been told countless times that the office is not ran for their exclusive comfort however and that perhaps they could wear a cardigan or something, they clearly feel the cold more than the average human being and it’s that easier to put on another layer than take one off. So far this hasn’t happened.
My dilemma is this, should I…<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
A. Continue to placate them in order to maintain normal cordial relations and just lump it.
B. Lose the plot completely and let them have it with both barrels about how selfish they are being and maybe they might want to consider moving to the Caribbean if they think 25 degrees is effing cold.
C. Take to wearing Speedos whilst at my desk as a form of dirty protest.
Comments
Answer is C.
Pictures pse of them in their strappy little tops assuming they are not horrors (not you in your Speedos).
There are minimum and maximum guidlines as far as heating a work space goes, if you google it you have all you need to know at your fingertips.
It sounds to me that you are employed as apposed to being the owner so speak to your boss and explain the situation and a happy medium will need to be agreed upon.
If the girls are wearing strappy tops at this time of the year assuming the office will be like a sauna they are not taking others into account, likewise if the office reaches a certain temperature in the summer you are entitled to say something.
Definitely C and if that doesn't work, couldn't you ask somebody to turn the heating down a bit?
Thanks Bexley, we hadn't thought of turning it down...
:-)
E - download "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot", "The Heat is On", "Copacabana", "Hot in the City", etc onto Ipod. Take Ipod and speakers into office. Wear flip flops, aforementioned Speedos, back to front baseball cap and slap sun cream on. Play Ipod. Arrange for ice-cream van to play its tune outside your office. Pretend to collapse and start talking jibberish, blaming the heat etc. Get fake paramedics to take you away in a fake ambulance. Get fake doctor to ring your office & speak to one of the ladies saying you've been put on a drip due to dehydration.
Hope this helps.
Go to your doctors and tell him the excessive heat in your office is making you feel unwell, if you manage to pull it off show the sick certificate to your boss/HR department, when they read the reason things will change and David Attenburgh will be filming the next series of "Frozen Planet" from your desk.
Paying you for time off is bad enough but anything that might lead to a potential claim will soon make your boss sit up and take notice especially if the word "stress" is mentioned.
c defffo, or at least compromise, shirt off, wear shorts and flippies.
Play the green card.
Public sector workers daren't say it's all a load of bollocks!
Tell them that turning the heating down 5 or 10 degrees can save the planet.
In my working experience those who moan about others driving are the worst offenders when it comes to putting the office heating up to ridiculously high levels and yes they are usually women.
One law for them one for us.
Genius Len - Women are gluttons for a bit of greenery, at least being seen to be green anyway.
Liking the ideas so far guys but where's the female input?