# My poor, freezing coworkers! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 30, 2015, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344 "2015-01-30T16:51:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/1 "2015-01-30T16:51:58Z")
I’m working on this file. A big file. Like over 10,000 records that don’t have addresses and I have to look them up and put them into a spreadsheet. I _hate_ that sort of thing! That’s why I’ve written programs to automatically compare new files to the previous files, so that I don’t have to clean them manually. (I’m lazy that way. Write a program, and let _it_ do most of the work!) But the HVAC in our (relatively) new office is out of whack. My coworkers are cold. I was in the office Wednesday. I felt the ‘chill’, but I liked it. It was just enough to let me know I wasn’t going to be too warm. I usually have to turn my fan on in the afternoons. My coworkers were less comfortable. Out came the space heaters. I don’t know how many, but more than a few. Off went the power. Fortunately I only lost about ten minutes of work because of autosave. Today I’m telecommuting. My connection suddenly went dead. Yep, they tripped the breaker again. And I can’t turn on my computer (or even do a Restart) remotely. I had to have a coworker turn it on for me. Geez, people! Wear a sweater! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e79b87/32.png) [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Joker_and_the_Thief)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/2 "2015-01-30T17:27:36Z")
I demand the right to be comfortable in a t-shirt no matter the outside temperature! ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/3 "2015-01-30T17:37:48Z")
Someone in our office had their heater start smoking a bit yesterday. Put out quite the stench. I have very little sympathy, but that’s because I’m always running warm. At my old office, we used to have a couple of hideous, heavy sweaters in the office that anyone could use so that not everyone would have to suffer if someone were to be cold (but that no one would EVER be tempted to steal). Maybe you need to make a donation to your office, Johnny. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/4 "2015-01-30T17:41:53Z")
The president sent an email warning people that the aggregate space heaters draw more power than the rest of the office equipment combined, and that that’s why we’re losing power. He said, ‘Do what I do. Wear a sweater.’ I suggested it might be time to issue Official [company name] hoodies. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/5 "2015-01-30T17:51:30Z")
Is it only women using these space heaters? In my experience, its always women ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/6 "2015-01-30T17:53:18Z")
> [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](#): > > I demand the right to be comfortable in a t-shirt no matter the outside temperature! Damn straight! It’s called “Civilization.” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/7 "2015-01-30T17:59:05Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Is it only women using these space heaters? In my experience, its always women The office is mostly women; but there’s a guy in the cubicle across from me, and a guy in an office, who were using their space heaters Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/8 "2015-01-30T18:17:00Z")
I run slightly warm myself, but this winter I’ve practically been typing in mittens. However, I get really, really irritated when women in skirts and a blouse complain about the cold. It’s JANUARY. In BOSTON. Put on a base layer, some tights and boots, and a sweater! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/9 "2015-01-30T18:38:54Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Is it only women using these space heaters? In my experience, its always women I’m a guy, and have my space heater going most of the time (even in summer, if the A/C is in overdrive). And that’s while wearing undershirt, sweatshirt, _and_ fire-resistant labcoat. But I’ve got low heart rate & low blood pressure from low thyroid; I’m always icy. However, I gave my fan on permanent loan to one of the chubby guys down the hall. They’re always complaining of how hot it is, and I’d rather they not start to strip down for cooling until their hot flashes subside. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/10 "2015-01-30T18:40:52Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > But I’ve got low heart rate & low blood pressure from low thyroid; I’m always icy. For women, hot flashes can help take care of that. 😃 The down side is, once you start HRT, you realize that your hot flashes acted as an internal furnace the previous winter, and your heating bill increased. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/11 "2015-01-30T19:31:45Z")
We have a legitimate reason - the heaters don’t work right in my office. So if it is set to say, 70 degrees, my area will be around 72, and the back offices are at 65. 65! We know this to be true because the guy came around with his little machine and checked it. They don’t dress foolishly either. They wear pants, sweaters, layers, and have blankets and space heaters. But the fact is when you are sitting most of the day, it does get cold at 65. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/12 "2015-01-30T22:02:29Z")
65 would be heaven. I usually keep my house at 68 and wear a t-shirt and shorts pretty much all the time. It must be about 165 here in the office now. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/13 "2015-01-30T23:03:19Z")
I used to work in an inside office (no windows). Just me and 4 women. They were cold, so they blocked the ceiling vent, driving the temperature up to something like 100 degrees. Still, they all wore sweaters, while I was sweating like a pig. Now, I work at home and set the thermostat at whatever I please. And yes, I wear just gym shorts and a t-shirt. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Holdsworth\_Effect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/848f3c/32.png) [@The\_Holdsworth\_Effect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Holdsworth_Effect)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/14 "2015-01-31T05:32:40Z")
My office is usually fine, but the exam rooms all vary, and at different times of the day! One is very warm in the first part of the morning, freaking cold at 11 am, and fine in the afternoon. I wear layers. Multiples. and I put more gowns on the poor patients. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/15 "2015-02-01T04:32:17Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > We have a legitimate reason - the heaters don’t work right in my office. So if it is set to say, 70 degrees, my area will be around 72, and the back offices are at 65. 65! We know this to be true because the guy came around with his little machine and checked it. > > They don’t dress foolishly either. They wear pants, sweaters, layers, and have blankets and space heaters. But the fact is when you are sitting most of the day, it does get cold at 65. If you require sweaters and blankets at 65 degrees, you probably have some sort of medical problem that should get checked out. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/16 "2015-02-01T05:57:25Z")
I’m the hvac guy for our building and I can control the temperature of any office in the building from a computer at my workstation. So be nice. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/17 "2015-02-01T09:19:23Z")
This reminds me of something that happened at a company I used to work for. We had moved into a new building, and after working there a couple of months it was apparent there was a problem. One side of the building was always too cold, and the other side was too hot. People kept trying to fix it by adjusting the thermostats, but the problem kept getting worse. The company kept bringing in HVAC experts. They would go around the building measuring temperature and airflow, and would adjust things accordingly. It didn’t help. One of the HVAC experts told us the problem was that we had the wrong type of HVAC system for the building. He said there were systems for buildings with north/south exposures, and ones for buildings with east/west exposures, and that we had the wrong type. This didn’t fix anything, of course. Eventually the company found the biggest HVAC guru in the area. Instead of measuring and adjusting things, this guy took a different approach: he studied the blueprints and discovered the real problem: The controls for the left side of the building were on the right side, and vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/18 "2015-02-01T11:39:27Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > This reminds me of something that happened at a company I used to work for. We had moved into a new building, and after working there a couple of months it was apparent there was a problem. One side of the building was always too cold, and the other side was too hot. People kept trying to fix it by adjusting the thermostats, but the problem kept getting worse. > > The company kept bringing in HVAC experts. They would go around the building measuring temperature and airflow, and would adjust things accordingly. It didn’t help. > > One of the HVAC experts told us the problem was that we had the wrong type of HVAC system for the building. He said there were systems for buildings with north/south exposures, and ones for buildings with east/west exposures, and that we had the wrong type. This didn’t fix anything, of course. > > Eventually the company found the biggest HVAC guru in the area. Instead of measuring and adjusting things, this guy took a different approach: he studied the blueprints and discovered the real problem: > > The controls for the left side of the building were on the right side, and vice versa. Now personally, as an HVAC guy I would have tried that early on. But then, I wasnt trying to sell you a new system. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/19 "2015-02-02T15:38:57Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > If you require sweaters and blankets at 65 degrees, you probably have some sort of medical problem that should get checked out. People are always so judgmental. Is it really so hard to believe that 65 can get really cold, when you are sitting all day? Not everyone is a heater. Circulation varies from person to person. Young people are warmer than old people. So let’s establish this: They are all fairly healthy women. They are not complainers. But the fact is the office is really cold at 65. I’ve walked back there myself and it feels cold. Everyone is just going to have to compromise. I don’t think it’s fair to expect everyone to be comfortable at “68, with a tshirt and shorts”. I keep my house at 67 and I can’t get by with a tshirt and shorts - I usually have a hoodie and pants and socks. At work, I am happy with it around 70. But I can compromise. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344/20 "2015-02-03T05:41:24Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > If you require sweaters and blankets at 65 degrees, you probably have some sort of medical problem that should get checked out. Well, I COULD maybe see needing a light sweater at 65 if you’re a woman (who likely wears women’s clothing, which is generally made with much thinner fabric than menswear, even for equivalents like trousers) at a sedentary desk job (so you don’t really generate heat from activity when busy working). But in general, that IS something to consider. When I had undiagnosed hypothyroidism, I was freezing all the time, even when fellow female coworkers were fine in their usual office wear. I would wear knee-highs and silk thermal pants under my trousers, a silk thermal top under a nice sweater, then have to throw on my office cardigan AND wrap my lower half in a fleece blanket when seated at my desk. And I’d STILL not feel warm. :eek: And it still didn’t occur to me that maybe I should see a doctor about it. Derrrrrrrrrrr. 😛 It can be really easy to not realize when something maybe isn’t normal, because it can happen gradually enough that the change doesn’t jump out at you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-poor-freezing-coworkers/711344.md?page=2)