Cold offices

[Anonymous]

My office is so cold. We are not allowed to have space heaters. I am wearing a jacket, but it's not enough. I feel like I need a blanket or a down coat. What to do?

[Anonymous]

What's the temperature setting?

Remember in warm outside weather offices greenly are steady, the same temp as they were in winter, when you were wearing more clothes. So maybe you have to wear more than a jacket? I tend to wear sweaters in the office in the summer. Many women keep a wrap at their desk.

Also, get up and walk around regularly to keep the blood flowing?

[Anonymous]

Same situation!!! I have a space heater on right now. I prefer to actually be able to do my work than worry about getting in trouble for it. It was 62 degrees when I got in this morning. I even have trouble typing when I'm shivering.

I also have an electric throw blanket. No one blinks an eye at it. They aren't specifically mentioned as outlawed light space heaters.

[Anonymous]

Talk to hr. Start an environmental initiative. Save energy save money!

[Anonymous]

I'm in a Leed certified green building and it's 62 degrees right now!!! The hypocrisy makes me want to barf.

[Anonymous]

This is because men wear way too many clothes in the summer. No way should men be wearin undershirt, tie, long sleeve shirt and a jacket when it is ninety degrees out! They are the ones who jack the ac down to 60 and the weather appropriately dressed women freeze.

There needs to be a change in what is considered appropriate office wear for men in the summer months. The most they should wear is khakis and a short sleeved polo and frankly I think shorts and linen pants should be ok too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is because men wear way too many clothes in the summer. No way should men be wearin undershirt, tie, long sleeve shirt and a jacket when it is ninety degrees out! They are the ones who jack the ac down to 60 and the weather appropriately dressed women freeze.

There needs to be a change in what is considered appropriate office wear for men in the summer months. The most they should wear is khakis and a short sleeved polo and frankly I think shorts and linen pants should be ok too.

Yes, this is why. It totally sucks and it's really bad for the environment, let alone super uncomfortable for women in general (although when I was pregnant it was nice, and my supervisor loved it during menopause!).

There was a big campaign in...Brazil, I think, to get men to wear short sleeves to the office to save electricity in the summer.

I also shudder at the hypocrisy of a LEED-certified building being air conditioned below 70 degrees. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

I have a summer cashmere cardigan and no kidding cashmere fingerless gloves just for that reason. Also a very large clay mug for hot tea all day long- mostly to keep my hands warm. Oh and always wear trouser socks or little foot petals if skirts as warmer feet make it all better. A coworker has an electric blanket she sits on. It's completely ridiculous especially because we have a casual office so no one receipt the CEI wears a suit and tie. It's cashmere because it's light weight and not because I'm that prissy .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is because men wear way too many clothes in the summer. No way should men be wearin undershirt, tie, long sleeve shirt and a jacket when it is ninety degrees out! They are the ones who jack the ac down to 60 and the weather appropriately dressed women freeze.

There needs to be a change in what is considered appropriate office wear for men in the summer months. The most they should wear is khakis and a short sleeved polo and frankly I think shorts and linen pants should be ok too.

Yes, this is why. It totally sucks and it's really bad for the environment, let alone super uncomfortable for women in general (although when I was pregnant it was nice, and my supervisor loved it during menopause!).

There was a big campaign in...Brazil, I think, to get men to wear short sleeves to the office to save electricity in the summer.

I also shudder at the hypocrisy of a LEED-certified building being air conditioned below 70 degrees. Ugh.

pp here in the LEED building. Is there anything I can do to get this changed? Have their certificate pulled?? It was 60 the other day before I complained bitterly.

[Anonymous]

Need a happy medium. Ours hovers in the low 80's some days. I would rather have the "need to wear more clothes" problem. (but not at 62 degrees for sure).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My office is so cold. We are not allowed to have space heaters. I am wearing a jacket, but it's not enough. I feel like I need a blanket or a down coat. What to do?

That was my situation as well. Get a heated blanket. No prohibition against those and my colleagues think it's just a regular blanket.

[Anonymous]

As someone that is both LEED AP and works in the Facility office please check and see if you can report the temperature problem to the building management office. HVAC equipment does malfunction and we can fix it. Especially at this time of year when systems are being switched over from heating to cooling. I am always frustrated when someone casually mentions they have been freezing/burning up for the past week. TELL us and we can fix it. If you are in a leased building (ie-not a govenment owned building) ask your hr dept who to report it to. If they don't know then find out who the property management company is and report it to them. Usually the Property Management is listed on your building directory in the lobby or you can ask the "guard" in the lobby. If you work in a government owned building there is a Facility Office. Check your agency's intranet site. Do a search for Facilities Management. It is usually the same office as the group that you would schedule a move with.

Please report the issue and don't use the space heater. They are not allowed for saftey reasons.

[Anonymous]

I snuck a space heater to work. I was in the very large, pentagonal-shaped building in Arlington. I've had blankets, snuggies, and during my last pregnancy I used a shawl/cape that was both functional and office-appropriate.

I've found that getting up every 30 minutes to an hour for a brisk walk down a few hallways helps with circulation and fitness. We shouldn't be sitting as much as we do anyways. Put it to your advantage.

But also- talk with facilities! Maybe there's an issue in your office. You may also be in a colder area of the building/office and may need a relocation if you're under a vent.

[Anonymous]

I got a heating pad and put it on my seat at work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone that is both LEED AP and works in the Facility office please check and see if you can report the temperature problem to the building management office. HVAC equipment does malfunction and we can fix it. Especially at this time of year when systems are being switched over from heating to cooling. I am always frustrated when someone casually mentions they have been freezing/burning up for the past week. TELL us and we can fix it. If you are in a leased building (ie-not a govenment owned building) ask your hr dept who to report it to. If they don't know then find out who the property management company is and report it to them. Usually the Property Management is listed on your building directory in the lobby or you can ask the "guard" in the lobby. If you work in a government owned building there is a Facility Office. Check your agency's intranet site. Do a search for Facilities Management. It is usually the same office as the group that you would schedule a move with.

Please report the issue and don't use the space heater. They are not allowed for saftey reasons.

Normally it's the older women that push for the freezing temps. 70% of my office is menopausal women who just love sitting in 65 degree weather. It's awful.