Advice?

39 Comments

1. Jackie RukaJanuary 31,2023 at 5:26PM UTC

   Can you work from home til it gets fixed?

2. AnonymousJanuary 31,2023 at 5:34PM UTC

   If you can't be fully operational at home them call OSHA and file a claim against the company. Since no one else is seems put out, then I'm wondering if there are warmer areas in the office you can relocate to.

3. Anne KrookJanuary 31,2023 at 6:32PM UTC

   Try the Department of Labor or OSHA websites. Your town government may have a reporting line as well. Depending on how anonymous you need to be, you can try a tip line to a local news organization.

4. AnonymousJanuary 31,2023 at 6:33PM UTC

   We would send people home in circumstances like that. Especially anyone in a role that could easily wait until tomorrow to get the work done (which applies to most people who work in an office) or some of the work could be done remotely. If they couldn't do some of their work from home, we'd just comp the time. It's not their fault they can't safely work and we wouldn't make them take it as unpaid time or use PTO. We've done this in the pre-hybrid days when the electricity was out for more than a short while or the water, heater, or A/C weren't working. Unless it's an expected and unavoidable part of the job, you can't expect people to work in unacceptable environmental conditions. Even for people who typically work in the elements, there are usually limits in place (obviously some outlier kinds of positions are expected to work in extreme conditions). These parameters should be pretty narrow for office workers.

5. Cindy GrossJanuary 31,2023 at 8:07PM UTC

   They are required to provide a safe workplace - what you described is not safe. It's the company's legal and ethical responsibility to make it safe and/or pay you even if you aren't working in that unsafe environment. I would bet OSHA has regulations you can quote to your boss if needed.

6. AnonymousFebruary 1,2023 at 1:02PM UTC

   Hello, when you have a concern in the workplace you go to your leader and if you feel you're not getting any action or support you go to your leader's leader, and so on. You need to feel empowered to act. You would also benefit from copying your leader's leader on the email with that request. Must have been a very long phone call to not be able to get some time with the office manager.

7. AnonymousFebruary 1,2023 at 7:32PM UTC

   Get a doctors note. Then, I would email all the parties concerned; Building management, your boss, HR and the CEO. Let them know that under doctors orders your medical situation requires you to be in a place where you do not have to shiver to get your work done and that until the heating system is replaced you will be WFH -working from home. Let them know that while working from home you will be 100% available for calls meetings and any other work product between the hours of X-Z be specific and let them know that you are still committed to the job and that you are not in any way abandoning your position. Additionally, you could contact your local health department they should have regulations as well as OSHA for the minimum temperature required in your area for an employer. Do not take any PTO for this unless your plan is to not work.

8. Julie WozniakFebruary 2,2023 at 1:05PM UTC

   Exactly!

9. Angela Day DentonFebruary 2,2023 at 3:10PM UTC

   I completely agree!

10. Nicolette ThompsonFebruary 2,2023 at 1:15PM UTC

    Go up the chain - your supervisor, lateral supervisors, up the org chart.

    hey Bob, it’s about 40* in here and it’s pretty tough to get work done. I totally get it that it’s hard to get someone to work on the heat with everyone freezing - but I’m going to work from home till this is fixed.

    easy peasy.

11. AnonymousFebruary 2,2023 at 1:49PM UTC

    I found this for you, from https://www.workingamerica.org/fixmyjob/workingconditions/unsafe-temperatures#:~:text=While%20there%20are%20no%20specific,to%20extreme%20cold%20and%20heat.

    While there are no specific federal regulations about working in extreme cold or heat, you do have a right to a workplace “free from recognized hazards .” That includes exposure to extreme cold and heat. Some states do have more rigorous rules regarding heat, and you can find the state plans here .

    Definitely look into your state's labor laws. If nothing else than to bring it upper management's attention that they need to correct things ASAP or at the very least provide better answers and a temporary solution for all that are affected.

12. AnonymousFebruary 2,2023 at 1:58PM UTC

    Several years ago I was freezing in an office. Our section was carved out of other spaces. I told my manager but didn't get a response. I was wearing my heavy winter coat at my desk. During that time, I saw someone from maintenance testesting vent temperatures. I didn't recognize him or know what he was doing. So I went over and introduced myself. We talked and he investigated my area. He discovered that my area had been part of the board room next door and the thermometer there was only actually adjusted when a meeting was scheduled. The building HVAC department had to change some equipment. My manager just watched.

13. Kathleen HawkinsFebruary 2,2023 at 2:10PM UTC

    Call the Board of Health.

14. John HerndonFebruary 2,2023 at 2:27PM UTC

    Contact the labor board in your state.

15. AnonymousFebruary 2,2023 at 2:29PM UTC

    i agree with all previous comment on employers needing to provide “safe working conditions” and there is nothing specific to office temps. Do you have a Health and Safety department?

    We had a similar situation last month but it was only for 1 business day? HSE should look into it to see what the ETA for repair is, that might prompt them to make alternative arrangements, such as working remote.

    stay warm - sorry you are going through this

16. AnonymousFebruary 2,2023 at 2:29PM UTC

    Is there anyone that manages the building you could talk to or request assistance from? Are you able to work from home? Is this a conversation that you could have with your manager about working from home since it is cold?

    Also, your office manager being on the phone, whether or not she was "trying to get concert tickets," is not an excuse for not being able to reach her, nor was it necessary to mention. Was going to her desk to talk to her the only method of communication? Are you not able to send her a ping on Teams/Slack or even send an email? Did you need her to respond to you immediately, at that very moment? Yes, fixing the heater is a high priority, but not a high enough priority to drop what she's doing.

    Please don't continue living your life thinking that your Office Manager should drop everything they're doing to address your issue. Everyone, literally everyone, has requests they want the OM to handle, and they all want it handled yesterday too.

17. AnonymousFebruary 2,2023 at 2:42PM UTC

    Sorry, I disagree here. Having a 40 office temperature is a safety issue that should be a top priority for the office manager. Work cannot be successfully completed. At this point, I would be packing up my stuff to go home, citing extreme temperatures. And refusing to go back until the temperature is fixed.

18. AnonymousFebruary 2,2023 at 7:06PM UTC

    And what exactly is that that you think the office manager could do? Do you think she waves her magic wand, and the temperature gets fixed? The OP was already told that "they are working on it." I assume this means that the office manager, or someone else, has already been in contact. Or do you think "working on it" means something different? Like I said, fixing the heater is a high priority, but not a high enough priority to drop what she's doing (again, whether it is getting concert tickets or not), because what would she do in that very moment? Tell you "Okay, I'll follow up"? Editing to add: Again - this request could have been made in a Teams/Slack message or even an email, not stop by the OM's desk expecting her to tend to you immediately. Stop treating OMs or OCs or Admin Assistants like they are personal slaves. Wish magic wands existed to give people some common sense.

19. AnonymousFebruary 2,2023 at 8:52PM UTC

    Found the office managere who was on the phone buying concert tickets! ^^^^

20. AnonymousFebruary 6,2023 at 2:27PM UTC

    For all the times you re-quoted the original post, you could do a little reading yourself. No one asked you to find the office manager.

    "this request could have been made in a Teams/Slack message or even an email, not stop by the OM's desk expecting her to tend to you immediately."

21. AnonymousFebruary 6,2023 at 4:22PM UTC

    You're just really doubling down on this, aren't you?

22. AnonymousFebruary 2,2023 at 4:22PM UTC

    Found the office manager buying her concert tickets instead of doing her job.

23. Beth Whight MoralesFebruary 6,2023 at 9:59PM UTC

    Quite frankly, if the heat hasn’t been fixed in three days, the manager should be the person making waves, not the staff.

24. EMILY KIKUE FRANKFebruary 2,2023 at 3:02PM UTC

    If you're in the US, it's an OSHA violation: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2003-02-24

    So tell them you either want to work from home or you're going to call in a complaint.

25. Colleen HansonFebruary 2,2023 at 3:08PM UTC

    I am so sorry for your situation! I was in a similar situation years ago wherein the pipes froze at our office and we were without bathroom facilities, running water, etc. The owners were men and as they put it "we can just pee outside" so they were in no hurry to spend the money to fix the problem. They expected the ladies to drive to the nearest convenience store to use the bathroom which was about a mile away. We were also required to "clock out" to do so. I carpooled to work so I did not have a car to drive to the convenience store so I was told that I could walk but to keep in mind that I would be clocked out so I "better walk fast or run". Obviously temperatures were extremely cold and not the kind of weather anyone would want to walk a mile in. On day two of this, with no attempts made by the owners to hire someone to repair the issue, I contacted OSHA, who stepped in immediately and told them it was considered "unsafe and unhealthy" for them to make us work in an environment with no working bathrooms and no running water and shut them down until such time as they could have the frozen pipes repaired. Wouldn't you know two days later the pipes were fixed and we were told to return to work. Sometimes you just need to light a fire under their butt. It is my understanding, by OSHA's standards, that working in any office environment the temperature should be at least 68 degrees. I don't know if that varies by State, but I would certainly contact OSHA and find out. Good luck!

26. AnonymousFebruary 2,2023 at 4:02PM UTC

    Call your state labor department, your county health department, local tv news channel and the owner of the building (if not your company). Watch them jump!

27. Valentina Huang, MBA, SHRM-CPFebruary 2,2023 at 4:13PM UTC
    1. I'm so sorry to hear you're working in nearly freezing conditions. If your supervisor nor HR is going to do anything about it, then you need to take action. Let them know that until the issue is resolved, you are not able to work in that environment and will work from home or, they can purchase a additional space heater (at their expense). Even if HR is about to retire, still report the issue so there's documentation on your end. If it bubbles up to OSHA or any other party, you want to make sure you have your own records/documentation. Good luck and try to stay warm!
28. Christie SummervillFebruary 2,2023 at 4:32PM UTC

    Or buy a space heater that costs under $100.

29. AnonymousFebruary 2,2023 at 10:05PM UTC

    "I am huddled over a space heater" - direct quote from OP

30. ValerieFebruary 2,2023 at 4:45PM UTC

    Involve HSE

31. Beth Whight MoralesFebruary 2,2023 at 5:15PM UTC

    If you typically work in a heated office, the heat stops working, and getting it fixed is dragging on, call maintenance if there is a maintenance department. Let them know this has been going on for a few days and ask them if it’s possible to get an eta for a fix or if they can explain what’s going on.

    If there’s no maintenance - it’s probably a small company and you’ll have a much harder time, but start making waves if you truly cannot get work done. But beware being the “complainer” if you can stick it out a couple more days.

    I worked in an in heated warehouse office that got no sun and no heat whatsoever so I would work with my coat on and I left my space heater on 24/7. But if you’re in a professional offic, you should have heat.

32. misskelleypFebruary 2,2023 at 6:22PM UTC

    Call your state's version of OSHA, or the local Federal OSHA office. This is a not a "safe" working condition.

33. Arlene Frances Gottardo (Bryak)February 3,2023 at 3:47AM UTC

    Get a heater or call 311- this is unacceptable.

34. AnonymousFebruary 4,2023 at 9:15PM UTC

    "I am huddled over a space heater...."

35. Arlene Frances Gottardo (Bryak)February 3,2023 at 3:49AM UTC

    Seriously, your health & happiness & comfort is IMPORTANT. Buy a portable heater if you must, keep the receipt.

36. AnonymousFebruary 4,2023 at 9:15PM UTC

    "I am huddled over a space heater...."

37. AnonymousFebruary 3,2023 at 11:48AM UTC

    Call the building department and report the that the landlord is not providing heat. It is law that heat be turned on from a certain date, usually October to April. They will get hit will daily financial violations and either fix it or you can work to get the building shut down.

38. AnonymousFebruary 6,2023 at 7:22PM UTC

    I guess you got the heat fixed.

39. AnonymousFebruary 6,2023 at 7:53PM UTC

    OP Here - it took several employees threatening to quit and then suddenly the heat kicked on! Funny, that.