When office turns Siberia

Corporate managements have forever been concerned about office design, colour schemes, layouts and facilities that go a long way in impacting employee productivity.

But now, ‘office temperature’ is said to play a big part in upping or restricting efficiencies and employee morale. Factors such as air temperature, air velocity, humidity and metabolic heat are crucial to the welfare of employees who average about 9-10 hours per day at the office.

According to Amit Ramani, CEO and Founder, Awfis Space Solutions, which provides tech-enabled co-working environments for entrepreneurs, although air-conditioning is a necessity at every office, finding a comfortable temperature to please everyone is often a challenging task. “Air-conditioners are not designed keeping in mind the human body temperature. The office vents tend to blow air that becomes too chilly. The wrong temperature can lead to discomfort, diminishing employee performance. The overall growth and profit of a company is dependent on the effective functioning of employees.”

Kartik Sharma, a 22-year-old trainee analyst at a mobility firm in Mumbai recently found himself with chills and shivers after his first night-shift in an air-conditioned set-up. Neither Sharma nor the office was equipped with warm gear and the temperature could not be regulated to suit one individual. The youngster had to take two days off to get over the subsequent fever that followed.

Lack of control over the work environment is impacting employee engagement and health, says Praveen Rawal, Managing Director, Steelcase India and Southeast Asia. “A Steelcase study shows that lack of flexibility and control over the physical work environment correlates with a lack of engagement. In contrast, highly engaged employees are those having maximum flexibility over how and where they work.”

So what’s the ideal temperature for an office in any Indian metro? Experts say though there is no single rule, a temperature of 23-25 degree Celsius in winters and about 22-23 degrees in summers should be apt.

Research states productivity can drop by as much as 10% in offices with temperatures greater than 30 degrees and those lesser than 21 degrees.

According to Ramani, the best way to create an ideal temperature is to provide a zoning system that allows rooms to be controlled by individual thermostats. “The zoning can be achieved through a technology called VRF (Variable Refrigent Flow) system that allows the air volume and flow to be controlled in specific areas, thereby allowing the control of temperature. The temperature in open plan offices can be at best zoned but not controlled at an individual desk. In general, keeping the temperature on the lower side works as the employees comfortable with higher temperature can always add additional layers of clothing to maintain comfort,” says Ramani.

Moreover, experts say having daylight filters allows for mentally regulating temperatures based on the outside perceived environment. “Wide open corridors provide constant movement of air. Height adjustable workstations also enhance productivity, while sliding doors keep zoned area temperatures controlled,” says Ramani.

...& ANALYSIS

• Companies tend to cool their spaces dramatically in the hotter months. That leaves some people shivering, and creates a dilemma for managers
   
• Research states productivity can drop by as much as 10% in offices with temperatures greater than 30 degrees and those lesser than 21 degrees