As many optometric offices prep for fall weather, WO asked readers who is in charge of adjusting the thermostat in the office.
ALL ABOUT PREFERENCE
The majority of respondents (85%) said the ideal temperature for their workplace is between 71 and 75 degrees, sticking with the feel of a warm summer day. A smaller but equal number of respondents (8% each) prefer either a warmer office setting of >75 degrees, or a cooler office <70 degrees.
A quarter of respondents (26%) said their office often runs too hot. The same number of respondents (37% each) said their office either runs too cold or “just about right.”
One respondent said, “This survey fails to take into account at what stage of life the woman is. I was always HOT when pregnant. I am also HOT now that I am experiencing the occasional hot flash. Also, over the years, I have learned that temperature control needs to take into account what a sweaty patient in a small room smells like. I’d rather have exam rooms cooler!”
WHO’S CHANGING THE TEMP?
When it comes to who gets to change the dial, more than half of respondents (59%) said only the doctor or owner adjusts the thermostat. One-third of respondents (33%) said someone is regularly adjusting the dial based on the weather. One respondent said, “[I] must have a lockable thermostat or any staff walking by just randomly hits the button. I control [the temperature] on my iPhone only.”
Just over a third (37%) said they adjust the thermostat seasonally, and 30% leave it at a consistent temperature all year round.
Inconsistent temperature within the office was a common complaint among respondnets. One said, “Our HVAC is not the greatest and there is not consistent temperatures throughout the office. The exam rooms have to be quite cold in the summer or the rest of the office is cooking! The opposite is true in the winter.” Another said, “Our rooms are always hot or cold.”
More than half (56%) of respondents were female ODs and seven percent were male ODs. Another 37% of respondents were non-OD females.
To view past WO polls and responses, click here.
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