I know this can be a sore topic.. But I work in an office with very few men and the vast majority of women. There is a dress code for men, but none as such for women. Male dress code is: Long sleeve shirt, black trousers and smart shoes. Tie optional.
We're currently hitting the start of summer ...
@Paparazzi to clarify - we are 4 males total, in a company of ~60. Due to the nature of the other guy's job roles they are occasionally working at other sites whereas apart from rare circumstances - I'm office-bound. There is usually a couple days a week when all 4 of us are in the office at the same time.
Thirty-seven degrees? What? Surely this can't be real? On the off chance that it is, where are you located and what are you trying to do? You need to specify a goal/question in your post for people to know how to answer.
@Lilienthal i.imgur.com/jYz5mWv.jpg - located in UK - goal would be to bring office temperature to under 30 as a standard
@JaneS I'm melting, I've tried using my infra-red thermometer gun from home on a couple previous occasions to confirm the accuracy because the reliability of my desk thermometer was questioned when I've brought it up
@Matadeleo, seriously: in the UK? How high do they have the heat on? Sorry, but I find this claim very hard to believe, given the local climate and the fact that no one (however dressed) would be likely to prefer a temperature that high.
@dan1111 It's as shocking to me as it is to you. I've never met people who liked the heat this much. There have been times we've sneaked the air con on and got it down to 25 degrees while everyone was on lunch and then they come back and complain it's 'freezing'. I'm dumbfounded at the situation. UK is pretty cold and bleak most of the year and that's what I'm used to.
@Magisch I had a quick google, and there doesn't seem to be any upper limit on working temperature in UK, only a minimum. I think it's because they have to account for professions like glassworks, or other industries working in high-heat conditions.
@GustavoMP I'm effectively little more than a puddle at this point as a heavy set guy in business attire, the petite women of the office wearing summer dresses seem comfortable.
I can't comprehend that 37 degrees Celsius is an acceptable temperature for them to throw a tantrum about. As a person living in a hot country I would be unproductive for the rest of the day if I am exposed to fifteen minutes of 35 degrees Celsius. And I am female too. I think they are power-tripping you.
@Lilienthal really? I didn't expect that from you. Outside my office its 42 Celsius most of summer, and you disbelief 37? This is planet Earth, there are a ton of even hotter places. I agree that the title and the question need polishing.
That thermometer is either miscalibrated or near an external heat source. (Computer vent, surface absorbing sunlight, etc). Based on having been places where it is 37°, nobody just casually finds it comfortable (the only way not not die of hypertherima at that air temperature is to sweat heavily) - the other occupants of the office would be complainng if it really were that hot. Not that any of this effects the solution to the problem, which is inherrently a social one.
I've experienced temperatures up to 47 degrees C on several occasions but in forty years in the workforce I've never been in an office above 35 degrees C, and that only by mistake. And it was intolerable. And I was wearing an open neck shirt, short sleeves, and linen trousers. I would call whatever equates to the governmental occupational health and safety office in your jurisdiction. If the claim is correct. But I find it not credible.
@Mindwin I was incredulous because it's a ridiculous temperature for an office. I've worked in locations that had worse exterior temperatures but I'm baffled that both OP's management and HR think nothing of a temperature that exceeds recommended temperatures by more than ten degrees.
@CMaster If he's by a window, or in an area with exposure to the sun most of the day, it could be that his part of the office is much hotter. If he's trolling, it's a very bad troll.
@RichardU Could be the case - in which case the solutions to his problem change - as it isn't "the office" that is too hot, but where he is located within the office.
@JennyTengsonMandani 37 degrees they knew it was hot, but that's how they like it. "it's like being on holiday, this weather is so nice" etc. They throw tantrums if the air con being on cold makes the temperature go under 24-26 degrees usually.
@TorbenGundtofte-Bruun 16-18 degrees is not what I expect in an office, that's what I said I have at home. I answered that my ideal temperature in the office would be 20-24 degrees however I'd just be happy to be below 30. I'm aware 16-18 is cold for a lot of people and would not subject anyone in the office to it.
I find 24 degrees uncomfortable enough to wear a hat and a heavy jacket, but 37 would be a bit much for me if it's a sit down all day job in a suit I think. I'd just turn on the aircon and tell them to get stuffed, if HR kicked up a stink I'd tell them to get stuffed as well.
@RichardU My department sit next to windows, these windows are extremely old fashioned and do not open. I have the blinds closed to avoid being blinded / having the sun magnified on me.
@Matadeleo why don't they work outside then? Are they your seniors? Formally or informally? Can you transfer into a more private aircon room with some of your colleagues?
@Matadeleo, they throw tantrums. How unprofessional.
It may not actually be lawful for them to have a dress code which allows women to wear clothes that men are not allowed to wear. The problem is that you'd have to get fired and then sue them to benefit from this.
@JennyTengsonMandani Why don't they work outside? They'd have to get me to drag all their computers out first! There are a couple women senior to me here who are the ones who generally have the last word. The office only has open plan office space and corridor (which is my only source of sweet relief at the moment). I've tried what the accepted answer suggested tho, and think some progress has been made.
@Matadeleo wow great to hear about the positive turn on your part. I wonder how many of you in the office would rather have it cooler, because you could team up and tell the manager.
Why would anyone try to maintain a temperature that high in an office? And given that you're in the UK someone's deliberately creating that environment - with some quite powerful heating system. This smells like another Workplace.SE troll tbh.
@Mindwin "really? I didn't expect that from you. Outside my office its 42 Celsius most of summer, and you disbelief 37? This is planet Earth, there are a ton of even hotter places" This isn't Nicosia we're talking about. It's the UK. Usual ambient temperature is more like 15, 20 if you're lucky
@LightnessRacesinOrbit It's pretty easy to hit 30+ inside an office filled with people, with hot weather and heating on even just a bit. The post isn't a debate on whether reaching such a temperature is possible, that's not up for dispute. I've already gotten some help towards rectifying the situation.
@Zenadix it peaked today at around 26 I believe, which was when the temperature recording was taken. Also remember that temperature can vary greatly outside vs inside due to a number of factors.
@LightnessRacesinOrbit Feel free to go, start arguments and troll elsewhere. I'm out anyway, bored of the bedroom meteorologists.
If you get to 37 degrees inside in the UK, please patent the technology of that room. Thats an incredible heating technology you got there! I have no reason not to believe the temperature, but in my 3 years in the UK the temperature outside never went, not a single day, 10 degrees close to that! That room you are in has an insane greenhouse effect
@Matadeleo: There is no need to resort to rudeness. Several people have pointed out the sheer incredulity of what you're claiming! If you had an office regularly at 37ºC then your colleagues would be routinely collapsing with heat exhaustion, not insisting upon keeping it that way. It might be worth re-reading all the comments here and considering whether your thermostat is faulty.
@LightnessRacesinOrbit I resort to rudeness out of frustration at the fact that a bunch of people have turned a legit question into an argument. Totally ignorant of the fact that it's not a huge leap to get an office to be 10 degrees hotter than it is outside. I feel it unnecessary and irrelevant to sit here and explain how heating, sun on glass and body heat works because some people just want an argument. It's frustrating when ignorance is threatening to derail the post from it's purpose.
@LightnessRacesinOrbit We've been done here since I accepted an answer - but thank you for your contribution.. I understand the scepticism, as this kind of thing is not normal. I tried my best to explain it but assumptions have got in the way of reality here. I'm not here to argue, I presented a situation, got some advice and I shouldn't have taken the bait of answering side questions.
@JDługosz If I measured the temperature in direct sunlight, I would get a far too high heat reading because of the glass magnifying the sunlight on the surface.
If you are indoors, it is "shade". There is no direct sun, unless you are talking about through a window? Here in Texas, a hot room in an office was helped greatly by applying film to the window. I think that will work much better than closing blinds. (Or, put shutters on the outside)
@JDługosz Yes, I'm talking about the sunlight through a window. The effect of the magnification would heat up the surface far higher than the temperature of the room so I'd get a poor measurement. I will suggest the window film idea. Does it add much of a tint?
Tint: the ones I recall are considerable. Modern stuff is around now, like my home has no visible tint at all (but is opaque to UV and is very "low e" on the inside) but I don't know if that's available on a film to be applied to existing glass. Around here, it is desirable for large glass walls to be tinted.
I wonder if the high temperature is specific to your seat? What is the temperature at other workstations? Extreme variation between offices is not so unheard of.
Its specific to my department, we sit at full-height sun-facing windows. The temperature at the opposite end was 5 degrees cooler at today's peak. Im planning to ask about temporary desk swap.
and 41', it's completely doable, yes you sweat but you drink lots of water and make sure you take breaks, it's by no means an instant death by hyperthermia situation.
Discussion on question by Matadeleo: …
Discussion on question by Matadeleo: …