Summer colds and thermostats

[torontogal12]

I get a summer cold every year, and I know why.

It's because the temperature outside is 30C and the temperature in the office at work is 20.

Why do I have to wear winter clothes in the summer?!?

People complain about winter 9 months out of the year and then the 3 months of nice weather, they destroy with air conditioning.

I have to use the space heater in my office and I am still freezing.

[Natalka]

Getting sick isn't because of the temperature change, the virus or bacteria has to be present anyway.

However, I know it's irritating; I've worked in a similar office setting before.
Who is control of the a/c settings at work? Is it something that can be negotiated?

[DianneS]

Unfortunately, I've never worked in an office where everyone is happy with the temperature. One person is too warm, the person at the next desk is too cold, so the powers that be seem to set the thermostat and 'walk away'. (Can't say I blame them.) I am the one who is always too warm so when summer hits and the air conditioning is blasting freezing air throughout the office, a complaint from me usually means everyone else is cold enough to want to wear mittens! There have actually so many complaints about temperature, and enough people fiddling with thermostats, that they put lock boxes on the thermostats when it got out of hand. I feel for you...hope your office can find a solution.

[megansavingmoney]

I'm always cold indoors in summer. I hate having to carry a sweater with me to work or if I go out for dinner. My old job was the worst. We used to have the temperature super low because some people worked near giant ovens ad would roast. But the rest of us were freezing.

[GracieAnne]

Unfortunately, I've never worked in an office where everyone is happy with the temperature. One person is too warm, the person at the next desk is too cold, so the powers that be seem to set the thermostat and 'walk away'. (Can't say I blame them.)

This, you can never please everyone. At least you can layer up and you aren't one of the poor souls working in the 30 degree weather.

[Decaf]

I get a summer cold every year, and I know why.

It's because the temperature outside is 30C and the temperature in the office at work is 20.

Why do I have to wear winter clothes in the summer?!?

People complain about winter 9 months out of the year and then the 3 months of nice weather, they destroy with air conditioning.

I have to use the space heater in my office and I am still freezing.

Bring a sweater to work. Sometimes it's so cold I have to wear fingerless gloves at work while doing paper work.

I hate extreme temperature change...if it's 40 degree outside (with humidex) and the indoor temperature is 20 our body perceive the temperature as much lower...(I shriver and have a headache when A/C is temp is too low).

I think it's best to set the temperature according to seasonal temperature for example for summer 25, winter 19 or 20. That way our body temp is closer to the outside temp and won't be a huge shock that can weaken our bodies.

In our family, someone insist to set winter temperature to 25 and summer temperature to 18. So I have to wear tank top in winter and sweater in summer. When asked if you can stand 25 degree temperature in winter then why can't you stand 25 degree in the summer? No answer, eh?

[Ciel]

Natalka`s comment about present virus or bacteria-make nice with building management and just check that the maintenance person or contractor has done a recent check or drain of water from the AC system. Would not hurt to ensure that someone is making sure water is not `keeping`something company and circulating through the system. If you recall the stories from about 4-5 years ago, water features inside hospitals got taken out due to illnesses borne by recycled water; homes with Legionnaire`s cases tended to have standing water in equipment with the requisite lifeform causing all the trouble.
I`d add that you should wipe down office equipment, light switches (wet wipes) and computer keyboard (using computer safe spray with microfibre cloth) as a regular routine part of cleaning up your workspace. Chair rests, door knobs; you know the drill.
I`m one of the people in Hamilton that carries something on the bus for the frigid rides or when venturing into cold stores.

[frugal50]

now i have a nasty cold!!

due to poor neglect of hand hygiene 101

i usually avoid touching things in public

and wash hands as soon as i get home

but let it go

i know i caught this nasty virus either at the mall or subway

or using the ATM machine with my bare fingers

it didn't occur to me that i could pick up a virus during the summer

and now i'm paying for it

[Ciel]

Managed to get one sinus dripping due to A/C exposure this week (was grateful my eye was not wet too) and then the next day, the other sinus started to run! What fun wearing my spring coat this week to stave off A/C indoors and the chilly wind outdoors.

Well Shoppers benefited from me as I bought a box of Life brand tissues and pkg of pocket tissues yesterday to ensure I was not running out. Not that I really needed all those tissues-long walk seemed to stifle most of it but I kept sneezing!

[seylz_gurl]

^^frugal50 we have that same bug...sorry to tell you it is brutal and has hung around for over a week. re: AC bothers me too when it is set too low. Some of the bigger office towers and buildings are hard to regulate.

[greeny]

Getting sick isn't because of the temperature change, the virus or bacteria has to be present anyway.

However, I know it's irritating; I've worked in a similar office setting before.
Who is control of the a/c settings at work? Is it something that can be negotiated?

Yes, the temperature has nothing to do with catching a cold. It's all about being exposed to viruses. This is why you can pretty much catch a cold any time of the year. The reason it seems most people catch colds in the winter is because we tend to spend more time in doors and in closer proximity to others. That being said, not everyone can tolerate cold temperatures. The problem is making everyone happy in an office is hard to do. Some find it hot, some find it cold.

[greeny]

now i have a nasty cold!!

due to poor neglect of hand hygiene 101

i usually avoid touching things in public

and wash hands as soon as i get home

but let it go

i know i caught this nasty virus either at the mall or subway

or using the ATM machine with my bare fingers

it didn't occur to me that i could pick up a virus during the summer

and now i'm paying for it

Don't forget to sanitize after pumping gas. Those pumps probably never get cleaned. We touch so many gross things on a daily basis...it's easy to catch something.

[lecale]

The problem is in the summer men are still in suit and tie and want the office freezing as a result, while the women all try to wear sleeveless tanks in honour of the weather.

Just wear a blazer like the men and you'll stop complaining about the temps.

[wolfwoman]

Throw menopause hot flashes into the mix and it will make for a really bunch of grumpy people!

[bhlombardy]

The problem is in the summer men are still in suit and tie and want the office freezing as a result, while the women all try to wear sleeveless tanks in honour of the weather.

Just wear a blazer like the men and you'll stop complaining about the temps.

Oh, yea? a woman will stop complaining? Funniest thing I read all day.

(Just kidding ladies!)