As a facilities manager or building owner, you’ve probably heard your share of complaints regarding office temperature. Not only does a less-than-ideal temperature aggravate employees, but it’s also directly linked to lower productivity — contributing to a lack of focus that can interrupt workflow.
Too cold for comfort
Researchers examining the link between temperature and productivity typically measure items such as workers’ output levels, efficiency and accuracy. Studies conducted by Cornell University professor Alan Hedge revealed that employees who are cold tend to work less efficiently. He measured computer keystrokes performed by office workers in temperatures ranging from 68 to 85° Fahrenheit.
According to Hedge’s findings, they were typing twice as much a minute at 85° than they were at 68°. It was also discovered that colder workers made a greater percentage of mistakes. Hedge’s studies have shown that a temperature between 72° and 79° is optimal for worker productivity and comfort. However, the temperature in most buildings is usually set between 70° and 74°, depending on the time of year.
Six degrees of separation between happy and disgruntled employees
If you oversee heating and cooling for an office building, your company might be concerned about office temperatures for a couple of reasons. Of course, every business wants to maximize the productivity of its workers. But if you’re paying to heat or cool an office to a certain temperature — one that’s making your staff less productive — you’re actually doubling the negative effect on your business or those of your tenants.
As a business owner or property manager, it’s entirely possible and affordable to make building temperatures more worker friendly. For more information, take a look at Improving an Imperfect World: Mitigating Office Temperature Extremes. Don’t leave your employees out in the cold! Find out how you can benefit from routine HVAC system maintenance.
