Every office around the world will have a common war going on. Hint: it can go bigger than office politics. Yes, it’s the fight over the AC. We all have, at least once, argued or complained about the temperature of the room. No matter what the setting, it’s ‘impossible’ to keep everyone happy at the same time. There will always be somebody who’s sweating and somebody who is shivering. The AC quarrels start with whining and go on as a battle, dividing the office into two teams. But can peace ever be achieved? Let’s find out!
The Forever Rival Teams
There are always two teams that are constantly fighting over the remote/temperature control. Which side are you?
Team “Freezing”
Now these are the group of people who are always cold and bring their jackets and even scarves/shawls even in summer just because they can’t stand the AC. Here are some common things they say- “Why is it so cold in here? Are you trying to freeze us? I’m just not feeling well in here.” You can expect them to hide the remote at every chance they get, drinking hot beverages and looking at the roof all the time as if the climate will get better with their rude look.
Team “Melting”
On the other side are those who are always hot, even when the temperature is set to 16 degrees. They got no chill. Literally. And then there’s the other side. These folks see the office as fieldwork and maybe expect a refrigerator setting. You can commonly hear them complain “Why are you guys not feeling the heat? Is the AC not working?” Their immediate strategy is to enter the air vent but since they can’t they are always on their hunt to find the coldest place (preferably a small meeting room) or sneakily tamper with the remote when no one’s watching.
The Temperature-Control Ninja
Every office has one person who thinks they can control the temperature however and whenever they like. They will just adjust the settings to their comfort and won’t let anyone know till others start to feel the change in the room temperature. Want to spot them? Look around and see who mostly sits near the remote control. Always on the lookout for catching it and saying “Maybe it was an automatic setting” when they get caught.
The Big Question- Is There a Solution?
The thing is that everyone has a different body temperature. Some people are always cold while others feel the heat even in winter. The central AC can never make anyone happy at all and the manual one will always attract fights over temperature control. Now what to do? While there is no end to this battle, here are a few ideas that might help maintain peace:
Dress for the Temperature: If you’re never comfortable with the office temperature, you either wear a jacket or such clothes or keep them in your bag and put them on when needed. Similarly, the hot bodies can dress accordingly.
Claim Your Zone: Find your sweet spot that is comfortable for you to spend the day. Check with your manager if you can take that seat near the window or the vent and don’t let it go.
Act Like Grown-Ups: Instead of an argument or cranking up about the temperatures, just come to a middle ground. Maybe 22 degrees work for all. Set and see how it goes.
Rotate the Settings: You can also switch the temperature settings throughout the day like making mornings cooler when sunlight is entering, afternoons pleasant and evenings warmer.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, nobody ever wins the AC wars. What is fair to one is not to the other. Look at it as a part of working in a very comfortable office. AC wars are a regular part of office life. You can either be freezing or melting, it’s always good to find ways to make the office more comfortable for everyone. Another thing you can do is join Let’s Connect Noida. We have different corners where you can find your ideal climate.
