Can overheated offices lead to a drop in worker productivity? One study says so. Led by One Poll for the AC and heating company Andrews Sykes Hire, the survey discovered just how hot temperatures impact performance, finding that 30 percent of the 2,000 workers polled took longer lunch breaks during the summer. That extra time off the job — which averaged around 13 minutes over the allotted time— adds up to over an hour lost each week, and around four hours each month. Plus, over eight minutes a day are devoted to workers’ adjusting to office temperatures.
We’ve reported on ice-cold offices before, but, according to this poll, 80 percent of workers complain about office temps being too hot or too cold. In the summer, 50 percent of offices are deemed too toasty, while in the winter, offices are considered too cold by 52 percent of those polled. Workers try to cope with the heat in a number of ways, including taking longer lunch breaks; while, in the winter, some of the polled workers even reported bringing hot-water bottles to the office!
But employers might consider this: In addition to better regulating office temps, a laxer dress code might also help alleviate some of the summer-heat strain. While less than 25 percent of respondents reported being offered a relaxed summer dress code, those with a formal code were also the most likely to have issues with office temperatures. Those wearing formal clothing were also the least likely to put in overtime hours during the year’s hottest months.
Check out the informative infographic below to learn more about temperature’s impact on productivity and worker satisfaction.
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