For some reason, the thermostat in my office also controls the office next door (as well as the heat in my office). It’s locked, so I can’t adjust the heat.
Today, the woman in the office next door and a maintenance worker came to check the thermostat. Apparently, she is finding her office quite cold and wants to turn the heat up… which would also turn the heat up in my office. They asked me if we could turn it up by 3 degrees. It’s currently 22 degrees C in my office (though it may be cooler next door). I said no–it’s already quite warm in my office; if it gets hotter, I’ll get sleepy, or very uncomfortable. Another colleague suggested that my office neighbour get a space heater–she says she has one, but it doesn’t warm her office up enough.
I feel bad that she’s cold, but I really can’t imagine working in a warmer space every day–especially in the winter, when I’m wearing warmer clothes anyway. (I can’t come to work in summer clothes when it’s freezing outside.) Also, I’m 48F. Any minute the Menopause Fairy is going to show up with her basket of hot flashes.
AITA for not letting them turn up the heat so my coworker in the next office can work more comfortably?
ETA: We can’t swap offices; we work for different departments. The wall between our offices is also the wall between departments. Each of our own offices opens into our own reception areas.
NTA
It is easier in an office setting for her to add layers than it is for you to remove them.
NTA. She can get a space heater but you can’t get a space cooler.. or can you.. 🤔 anyways. Layers are easy, but you can only get so naked.
I’ve always said that I prefer the cold for this reason and people always look at me like I’m crazy. No such thing as cold weather just cold clothes
Just switch offices. 🤷♀️
We can’t. We work in different departments. Each of our offices opens into our own department’s reception areas.
Maintenance needs to change the open vent in her office to one that is partially closed or she should cover the damn thing with some fabric. Or get up and walk circles around her desk for one minute to warm up. Or drink warm tea, or get a heated blanket or get fleece leggings and fingerless gloves or swap offices or wear scarves or warm water bladders for her lap or her back. Literally how some people hold down full time jobs with no problem solving skills I cannot fathom.
It won’t be so easy for you to cool down. NTA, they are the asshole for coordinating making that change before ever talking to you. Underhanded as hell.
NAH
22 degrees C is perfectly reasonable. But without knowing what temperature the office next door is we also don’t know if the request is reasonable or not from that persons perspective. So they are not an AH for asking either. Might be an issue for the building to address if the temperatures between the two offices are very different.
NTA. Kicking it up by 3 degrees would be the equivalent of 77 degrees F, which is insanely warm for an office.
She can wear a sweater or get a stronger space heater. I’m willing to bet she only has one of those small under desk space heaters, that do almost nothing.
My house is only 19c, I would be sweating at 22c
NAH. This is a problem for the owner of the building.
NTA they can get a space heater. 25C is way too hot for a work environment!
NTA. Looks like your neighbor needs a better space heater. Maybe buy her one. They’re not that expensive. Could be a nice gesture….
NAH. 22C *(72F)* is a reasonable, if a bit warm, temperature for an office but your coworker isn’t an AH for also wanting a warmer office. She’s allowed to inquire about the thermostat but you are also allowed to deny that request.
NAH: You should not be responsible for setting the temp of someone else’s office. this is not reasonable. This is an issue the building owner needs to figure out Now.