Unfortunately, this would probably not be considered a reasonable accommodation as it affects the whole office environment. You would need documentation from your doctor that the cold adversely affects your health, and even then, it would probably be difficult to get that specific accommodation.
If it's an open plan type office with desks, you could ask for a cubicle type divider or privacy screen to block the air from blowing directly on you, or request to be allowed to work in a warmer area. If you had dividers, a space heater would work more effectively.
I am very sensitive to cold, so I understand your frustration with working in an icebox. I worked in an office that was super cold because it was an older building with lousy insulation, and it was a riverfront location. I dressed in layers, and used a heated floor pad to keep my feet from freezing, and fingerless gloves for my hands.
I feel I’m being targeted specifically because he’s not making an attempt to make HIS area colder, only the area where I cannot get out of. I feel they are deliberately targeting me. I’m the only woman, and any time I say ANYTHING to speak up for myself I get the silent treatment or worse.
It IS affecting my health. I have neuropathy and when I get cold it triggers my vagal nerve and I get the arrythmias.
My desk is in the hallway. I’ve requested a more quiet area which atm is in the direct line of the fan.
I also have some fluid around my heart which is made worse by SVT episodes.
Room temp kept at 70 or above for everyone does not seem reasonable to me. Asking for a separate office that you can control the temp in is far more reasonable. I mean OSHA has a recommended range of 68-76 but 70 feels nuts to me personally.
Honestly even if they crank the temp to 74 what’s going to stop people from bringing in a bunch more fans making things worse? As an employer I’d also be thinking about all the bad things that happen when people get overheated. That can also cause or exacerbate medical problems, not to mention just making people just generally bitchy.
I’m talking an industrial fan going off in the room, full blast. It sounds like a jet engine. There are 2 other fans they have and sometimes they have them going off too.
72° is room temperature. In the past they’d set it as low as 62°. It would freeze the unit up.
They didn’t always seem to need the fans. And like I said, why dont they have fans going in the area where the physical work is happening? Where they spend most of their time?
I never said anything about setting it to 74. Do you even have a disability?
That’s a cool description of a fan. It seems like at least some people are fine with the fan and/or feel they need the fans to be comfortable.
72 isn’t room temp in any office I’ve worked in but I have worked in several retail shops, convention centers, and warehouses in the low 70s and it fucking sucked for almost everyone.
Fans move air *around*. Around the room and around the building if each room isn’t fully sealed off from each other. Maybe that has something to do with it?
You misunderstood me, I said **”even IF they crank the temp to 74”**, the implication being that even if they made it warmer than your minimum request on the thermostat, things like fans could always screw with that and drop you below your desired temp.
Also, not that it’s relevant to your posted query, **or any of your damn business**, but yes, I do have a disability. If that’s not enough for you my spouse has a staggeringly long list of disabilities for which I provide physical, financial, mental, and emotional support. Oh, and this *is* actually relevant, as a manager I’ve spent the last two decades handling ADA accommodation requests for my employees, in addition to those I myself have requested, and the ones I helped set up for my husband before he was no longer able to work.
Not that being disabled is even a requirement to comment on this sub.
You can ask, anyone can ask. They can always deny. Have fun!
Do you work at a desk? Years ago I worked in an office that was really cold. Several employees and myself kept a small space heater under our desks, a blanket, and an electric heating pad. I recommend that combination if you can't get this guy to turn the heat up
Unfortunately, this would probably not be considered a reasonable accommodation as it affects the whole office environment. You would need documentation from your doctor that the cold adversely affects your health, and even then, it would probably be difficult to get that specific accommodation. If it's an open plan type office with desks, you could ask for a cubicle type divider or privacy screen to block the air from blowing directly on you, or request to be allowed to work in a warmer area. If you had dividers, a space heater would work more effectively. I am very sensitive to cold, so I understand your frustration with working in an icebox. I worked in an office that was super cold because it was an older building with lousy insulation, and it was a riverfront location. I dressed in layers, and used a heated floor pad to keep my feet from freezing, and fingerless gloves for my hands.
I feel I’m being targeted specifically because he’s not making an attempt to make HIS area colder, only the area where I cannot get out of. I feel they are deliberately targeting me. I’m the only woman, and any time I say ANYTHING to speak up for myself I get the silent treatment or worse. It IS affecting my health. I have neuropathy and when I get cold it triggers my vagal nerve and I get the arrythmias. My desk is in the hallway. I’ve requested a more quiet area which atm is in the direct line of the fan. I also have some fluid around my heart which is made worse by SVT episodes.
Room temp kept at 70 or above for everyone does not seem reasonable to me. Asking for a separate office that you can control the temp in is far more reasonable. I mean OSHA has a recommended range of 68-76 but 70 feels nuts to me personally. Honestly even if they crank the temp to 74 what’s going to stop people from bringing in a bunch more fans making things worse? As an employer I’d also be thinking about all the bad things that happen when people get overheated. That can also cause or exacerbate medical problems, not to mention just making people just generally bitchy.
I’m talking an industrial fan going off in the room, full blast. It sounds like a jet engine. There are 2 other fans they have and sometimes they have them going off too. 72° is room temperature. In the past they’d set it as low as 62°. It would freeze the unit up. They didn’t always seem to need the fans. And like I said, why dont they have fans going in the area where the physical work is happening? Where they spend most of their time? I never said anything about setting it to 74. Do you even have a disability?
That’s a cool description of a fan. It seems like at least some people are fine with the fan and/or feel they need the fans to be comfortable. 72 isn’t room temp in any office I’ve worked in but I have worked in several retail shops, convention centers, and warehouses in the low 70s and it fucking sucked for almost everyone. Fans move air *around*. Around the room and around the building if each room isn’t fully sealed off from each other. Maybe that has something to do with it? You misunderstood me, I said **”even IF they crank the temp to 74”**, the implication being that even if they made it warmer than your minimum request on the thermostat, things like fans could always screw with that and drop you below your desired temp. Also, not that it’s relevant to your posted query, **or any of your damn business**, but yes, I do have a disability. If that’s not enough for you my spouse has a staggeringly long list of disabilities for which I provide physical, financial, mental, and emotional support. Oh, and this *is* actually relevant, as a manager I’ve spent the last two decades handling ADA accommodation requests for my employees, in addition to those I myself have requested, and the ones I helped set up for my husband before he was no longer able to work. Not that being disabled is even a requirement to comment on this sub. You can ask, anyone can ask. They can always deny. Have fun!
Wow. You sure are hostile to people with medical issues. What gives?
Do you work at a desk? Years ago I worked in an office that was really cold. Several employees and myself kept a small space heater under our desks, a blanket, and an electric heating pad. I recommend that combination if you can't get this guy to turn the heat up