Over the course of my working life, I have spent most of my time in workplaces where the population has been dominated by women. While this has provided a wonderful opportunity to build strong, supportive lifelong relationships with ladies I am blessed to call my friends, it has also revealed a power struggle that has repeated itself from office to office. It is a deeply rooted conflict that results in alignments and divisions among and between the unlikeliest of individuals. It isn’t based on education, race, religion, or compensation. The most prevalent point of contention in every place I’ve worked has been a battle for control of the thermostat.
It is an unfortunate fact that industrial HVAC units are simply unable to provide uniform comfort throughout a workplace. This is probably due to the fact that these buildings are constructed as large open caverns and the heating and air conditioning systems are designed for the space with no regard for any subsequent interior build-outs and remodels. Once walls go up and spaces are defined, there is really no way to insure uniformity of temperature from one side of the area to another.
Because temperatures can vary greatly from one side of the room to another; and the person closest to the thermostat has the power choose the settings based on their own personal comfort. Depending on where you sit and how comfortable you are, you may perceive the person in control as benevolent or autocratic. Those left in the cold or in the heat are left to either pile on sweaters or peal off as much clothing as decency dictates. Uncomfortable women are unhappy women and unhappy women do not always work in harmony with each other. Sometimes tempers flare as faces flush or feet freeze.
From what I can tell, men don’t seem to be as affected by temperature variances. And, if they are, as a rule, they don’t seem to be as vocal about it. I can’t remember ever seeing a man throw his sports coat to the floor and announce, “Oh my God, it’s hot in here!” On the other hand…. I have seen and sadly have to confess that I have been one of those women who have made that kind of declaration, particularly when I was in the throes of midlife hormone fluctuations.
There are many tried and true tactics employed in the battle for the heat. One is stealth attack, where someone feeling the heat (or cold) slips in while the “controller” is away from their desk and adjusts the thermostat. Relief in this case tends to be short-lived because eventually the controller notices the change of temperature and acts accordingly. Another approach is to complain to management. Success with this tactic is varied because if you have the kind of manager who will act on your request, you could be perceived as a whiner. Nobody wants to be known as a whiner.
Ideally, problems in the workplace like this are best handled by the whole group. The challenge is finding the right person who possesses not only the backbone to initiate the conversation, but the skill and finesse to allow all sides to be heard and their feelings sincerely respected. Folks like this are hard to find.
Take a giant step to the standoff between the Executive and Legislative branches of our government over the wall. So far, it seems that several individuals have stepped up in an attempt to bring all parties together for the respectful conversation. Sadly, neither side seems to be interested in being open to not only listening, but to the possibility that they might be wrong. As a result, thousands of people found themselves without paychecks.
Maybe minor skirmishes over the control of the office thermostat seem silly, but I think the more we are able to take care of the little things, we will be better practiced and able to handle to larger challenges in life. It’s just a thought anyway.
This is great and oh so true!