Battle for the Office Temperature

Tuesday 26th October 2021


Do you have a workplace battle for the office temperature?

A 2015 study by Dutch scientists found that women are comfortable at a temperature 2.5°C warmer than men, typically between 24-25°C. Despite men and women having roughly the same core body temperature, one study reported that the average temperature of women’s hands exposed to cold was nearly 3°C lower than that observed in men.


So, what does this mean for office life? Well, cold offices are likely costing businesses more than they realise. In 2004, Cornell University found that typing efficiency increases, while typing errors decrease, when temperatures are raised from the usual 19-22°C range to a slightly toastier 23-26°C.

It could be argued that this is largely due to the different genders uniform. The traditional male work attire of trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, suit jacket, and an undershirt all provide 1 clo – the measurement of how much insulation a person needs to stay comfortable in a resting position. Whereas, in comparison to a woman’s work wardrobe of knee-length skirt, long-sleeved blouse, and tights, equates to only 0.64 clo of insulation.


What have we done with this information at Adele Carr Recruitment? With the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic we have seen our usual norms thrown out of the window. Our team have now adopted a hybrid approach to working, equally in the office and at home, allowing for creature comforts. In the office, our usual stiff suits have turned into a post-modern smart-casual attire. AND every desk has both a fan and a heater. 


What's your preference on room temperature? And is your workplace doing everything to support this? Let us know on our social media....


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