A small work vent

[Maleficent13]

Should the manager of a department have absolute control over the thermostat?

My manager is always hot, and she keeps the average temp in the department frigid. My employees walk around in heavy cable knit sweaters and wool pants in the middle of July, and in the middle of winter it's not unusual to see them in long underwear under their skirts, sitting at their desks in their coats and hats.

She pish-toshes them and says they are just being dramatic. As someone who has trouble typing at times because my hands are frozen, I tend to be a bit more sympathetic. She chalks up my chilliness to having an outside office.

Is there any way I can combat this?

 

[Rippington'sFan]

Can't you go talk to somebody other than the boss about the situation?

 

[cynsaun]

Buy her a desk fan!

 

[gallaj0]

Do you have a building manager/facility person? I would take it right to them, and have them check to see where the thermostat has been set. Optimal temp for an office is 72 degrees, maybe a little higher if you are a "casual dress" office.

Of course, many people have very different ideas about where the thermostat should be set. Anything from metabolism, body weight, smoking or not, manner of dress, coffee/tea drinker all make a diffenence in how people precieve the temperature.

Even where you sit can make a difference; if you have vents right above you, when the AC turns on, you feel it right away, and until it turns off.

 

[Maleficent13]

Unfortunately, no, I can't talk to anyone about it. HR is a joke here, and if I complained about it they would tell my manager anyway and my work environment would be even chillier! HR is a whole other post!

I'm not shy about complaining about it to her face, and I do so often (like daily) but it doesn't make a difference. She just shrugs and says "You're never going to be able to make everyone in here happy and I'm not going to try."

I'd agree with her if it was just one or two people, but it's not.

eta: OMG, I can't even imagine the thermostat on 72. I think 65 is the closest we ever get.

 

[jrydberg]

A space heater

 

[Maleficent13]

Originally posted by jrydberg
A space heater

They are verboten. Maintenance makes sweeps every couple of months and confiscates them. Since we work in a building with no fire alarms and no sprinkler system, they're very paranoid about fire hazards.

 

[DoeWDW]

I love the idea of buying her a desk fan!

You can buy a digital thermometer at Radio Shack and have an accurate way to measure the temperature in different areas. I think she'd listen if you had actual numbers to work with and some research on what a normal office environment's temperature should be, rather than people's subjective opinions.

My office area is always freezing and I often work with my coat on - I hear you about trying to type when your fingers are frozen! Our building is heated (I use the term loosely) with a heat pump so it's always cold.

 

[hercamore]

Wow,

Is she post-menopausal?

65 degrees is too cold a temp for office work. She is really a poor manager. People in winter coats are being overly dramatic!

I'dbuy one of those huge digital thermoeters and put it in a place where she's like to see it regularly.

lherc.

 

[snarfer1]

So I set the thermostat at 70 degrees, year round. I also have an air conditioner in my private office window, and run it alot (my office is very hot). However, for my 'cold' employees, I provide each one with a desk heater, that they can use as they wish.

Now a manager is not the owner, and you have valid health concerns. If I were your boss, I would hope the individual desk heater would be enough. If it wasn't and you were a valued employee, I might compromise up to 72 degrees, if you were a pain (and I'm not saying you are, you know I like you Malie!), I would hope you would quit.

I'm not trying to be a jerk here, just pointing out the fact (That I beleive) that an owner has some rights (Less rights for a manager, though).

Best of Luck!

-Tony

 

[Rippington'sFan]

Originally posted by Maleficent13
Unfortunately, no, I can't talk to anyone about it. HR is a joke here, and if I complained about it they would tell my manager anyway and my work environment would be even chillier! HR is a whole other post!

I'm not shy about complaining about it to her face, and I do so often (like daily) but it doesn't make a difference. She just shrugs and says "You're never going to be able to make everyone in here happy and I'm not going to try."

I'd agree with her if it was just one or two people, but it's not.

eta: OMG, I can't even imagine the thermostat on 72. I think 65 is the closest we ever get.

Send an anonymous type written note to HR or like was suggested talk to the building manager. Something has to be done about it. That's not right.

 

[monkeyboy]

high beams

 

[Maleficent13]

Oh, Tony! I am a complete pain. But they love me here!

Unfortunately, we are temporarily without a building manager right now. The CFO also holds that job, and we have been without a CFO for several months. The only one who has control over my boss right now (until we get a CFO) is the actual president of the company, and I'm sure as heck not complaining to her. She's a right wee witch (no offense to perfectly respectable witches everywhere). She'd boot me for being a troublemaker.

I guess my only option is to drag out the box of thermals and bring in blankets.

Or...I had this thought...the next time I know the Pres is going to be making a walk through, encourage all my employees to wear their coats and hats and gloves and cough alot. That would make an impression! (See what a pain I can be, Tony??)

 

[Maleficent13]

Originally posted by monkeyboy
high beams

Did I mention my department is populated by females only? You'd be blinded by the light, MB.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I wish our manager did. Unfortunately we share office space with over 8 other companies and the only one who controls the thermostat is the manager of the building itself.

Right now, as I type this, I'm in a heavy heavy sweater, ankle legnth skirt and knee legnth boots. I'm about to put my gloves on. I'm not the only one. People constantly complain about how freezing it is in here, year round. One of my co-workers actually showed me her fingers turning blue a few weeks ago.

If I had to guess, I'd say it's maybe 50 degrees in here.

edited to say : We are strictly forbidden by building management to have desk heaters.

Also, yes, management of our ocmpany has talked to building management. We're moving buildings next year when our lese is up. Yeah...that's how good the talks went.

 

[Nickunited]

Buy a Space Heater!

 

[Rippington'sFan]

Originally posted by monkeyboy
high beams

Behave yourself. LMAO

 

[eeyore kelly]

Wal-mart sells heater that blow hot air, and are not as big a fire hazzard as the other type of space heaters. It works with a motor instead of exposed heating coils.They are even safe to use in a tent. Maybe you could get one of those.