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October 14, 2004

Miss Management: Climate Control

Posted by Nadine Heintz at 4:02 PM

Each week, Inc. staff writer Nadine Heintz (Miss Management) will help you tackle office etiquette problems both big and small.

Dear Miss Management,

I work in an office building where each floor has control of its own thermostat. Several people on my floor are constantly complaining that they are cold, while several others of us are always too warm. I dress in layers to try to combat this problem, but there are only so many layers that you can remove before your wardrobe becomes unprofessional! In the winter I can open my window to let some cool air in (until the draft becomes too much to deal with), but in the summer time it's unbearable. The people who complain that they are cold each have space heaters in their offices year round, but rather than turn them on, they often just adjust the thermostat that controls the temperature for the floor. Is there a temperature that is commonly considered a reasonable temperature for an office building? I would like to suggest that we set the thermostat to this temperature and leave it there, but don't know what temperature to suggest.

Sweltering in Pittsburgh

Dear SIP,

Take solace in the fact that I've had similar problems at every office I've ever worked in, and have spent a lot of time pondering the office temperature conundrum. In the summer, it's freezing. In the winter, it's like a tropical rain forest. Some offices have been worse than others, but all have been less than ideal. I think a big part of the problem is that it's difficult to regulate temperatures in large office buildings (and apartments, for that matter). Heating systems in older buildings seem to be a mere step above coal burning stoves. Chances are good that your company isn't about to pony up for an updated system. Luckily, there are some ways to deal with the problem. At my last job, the office manager was the only person allowed to touch the thermostat. At the time, it seemed a bit dictatorial. But now I see the wisdom in that edict. Ask one fair-minded person in your office (probably your boss or office manager) to take charge of the controls. Place a note by the thermostat asking people to consult with the boss before changing the temperature. Hopefully, whoever is in charge will keep the thermostat firmly planted in the middle range...68 to 70 degrees should be sufficient. Inevitably, the people who are always cold will opt to turn on their space heaters rather than pester the boss. As for overheaters like you, keep wearing layers and cracking the windows when needed. Of course, during the summer months, use a desk fan. Now get back to work!

Have a dilemma for Miss Management? Send her an e-mail and check back here Tuesdays for the answer.

2 Comments

Posted by: monica at October 15, 2004 9:50 AM: i have just joined a new organization and am given the post of an executive secretary while there are other senior secretaries working there for years and are below me due to incapability of handling the post. They are so jealous and I cannot tell them anything, they try to pick on my silly mistakes, gossip about me, not helpful. At the beginning I tried to put them in their place but then the full organization came to know that I was very bossy. They walk into my bosses office without my permssion or directly go with papers to my boss even while he is not in the office. It irritates me a lot. If I do they will go on doing so. Your suggestions please.
Posted by: nichiren kwame asiedu at October 19, 2004 3:14 PM: Please l respect and love your miss management,in is wise put our resouce together to open a trillion growth gold page in the history of this newage.
so kundly develop marketing demand contract oredr for us to export from ghana to your direction advise ahead of time and date,of thre following,Annatto seeds,Achantine escargot shells,sea shells,shea butter,and other tropical products contract which you will advise,all ship on f.o.b. basis,link to your enhancement price advise,attached with you service commission in cluase of letter of credit place on the order,which this will be the short term options,which done of this request,various massive billion projection will be advise.
nichiren kwame Asiedu

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