Who's Right?Office air conditioning: who decides the temperature?
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In short
Not the person who feels coldest, nor the one who feels hottest: in a shared office, the temperature is agreed on together, with the building manager having the final say. The best move is to set one shared setting, then adjust desks and clothing rather than the remote.
Both sides
My desk is right next to the big window, and in the afternoon the sun beats down on it. By 3 p.m. I'm sweating and I can't focus anymore. So yes, every morning I set the AC to 19 °C. If you're cold, you can put on a sweater. I can't exactly take off my skin.
I sit right under the air vent, and cold air blows on me all day long. I work in a cardigan and a scarf in the middle of July, and I caught two colds this summer. Karim changes the AC without asking anyone. When I can't take it anymore, I switch it off, I admit it, but that's because nobody listens to me.
The verdict
Karim has a real point: heat is harder to deal with than cold, and his sunny desk genuinely puts him at a disadvantage. His discomfort isn't a whim. But setting the AC to 19 °C every morning without checking with anyone, in a shared space, means imposing his comfort on everyone else.
Élodie isn't dealing with a little chill either. Icy air blowing straight at you all day can't really be fixed with a sweater. Her wish to be heard is fair, and it was Karim's one-sided setting that started the fight.
That said, switching the AC off entirely is also a decision made alone, and it penalizes Karim and possibly other colleagues. Both ended up fighting over the remote instead of talking. Élodie is slightly more in the right, because her problem comes from where her desk is and she didn't fire the first shot.
The compromise
Agree together on a middle-ground temperature, for example around 23 or 24 °C, and promise not to change it without talking first. Ask the building manager to redirect the vent or move Élodie's desk, and get Karim a small desk fan or a blind to block the sun.
Who do you think is right?
Pick a side.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change the office AC without asking my colleagues?
Technically yes, but in a shared space it's the number one source of conflict. A quick "Mind if I turn it down a bit?" prevents most of the tension.
What temperature keeps everyone happy?
There's no setting that suits everyone perfectly. A moderate temperature, not too far from the outside temperature, usually works for most people, and then everyone adjusts with clothing or seating.
I'm always cold at work because of the AC. What can I do?
First check whether the airflow is hitting you directly: that's often the real cause. Ask for the vent to be redirected or to move desks, rather than switching off the AC for everyone.
Who should I talk to if the AC dispute keeps going?
Talk to your manager or whoever runs the office facilities: it's their job to decide for the whole team. If the discomfort affects your health, you can also raise it with the occupational health service or staff representatives.
Guide Workplace disputes: the guide
Written with the help of AI, reviewed by the Who's Right team · This is not legal advice. How Who's Right decides
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