Most modern offices now have some form of air conditioning. It’s a staple in new, large buildings really, especially in cities where things can get stuffy and humid. It can be a total life saver on hot, muggy days! What we’re looking at today is whether or not air conditioning in offices should be compulsory. It’s a highly debated argument, so we thought we’d get involved.
Good Conditions for All
It’s horrible to work in an excessively hot, stuffy building, and when you’re in somewhere with little or no windows or ventilation, it’s even worse. It doesn’t really sound like a problem that a developed country such as the UK would have, but it is! Particularly for those who aren’t in such a good position to stand up for their rights or move to another job. By making air conditioning compulsory, all workers would have much needed relief on hot days, regardless of their working position.
More Flexible Office Space
Without air conditioning, less people should be in one room and most – if not all – should be seated by a window. Otherwise there’s going to be that problem of discomfort again. But this means that the space an office has isn’t used to its full potential, and eventually it could lead to more space being needed as the business expands. By installing air conditioning, it’s easier to accommodate more staff.
Prevent Illness
The amount of illnesses that come with overheating is concerning. Heat stroke, dehydration, rashes, and even stress-related sickness can all be caused by your employees becoming too hot. This is something that could easily be prevented by air conditioning. Would you be happy getting ill because your employer wouldn’t install something to stop it? We certainly wouldn’t be!
The Downfalls
As much as air conditioning should be seen as a positive thing for workers, there are of course some downsides. Firstly, it’s money. There’s no way around the fact that air conditioning will cost you. However, we’d argue that putting money before your employee’s health is not a decent thing to do. There’s also the fact that they’ll be able to work better when in comfortable conditions, meaning that they’ll bring in more money for your business in return.
The second is the environmental concerns. These are valid. We understand that using more electricity isn’t great for the environment, but really that’s down to how we source the electricity, not how we use it. If this is a problem you’re thinking about, why not install solar panels to generate a more sustainable source of power? There’s always an eco-friendly solution!
To sum up, we would say that, yes, air conditioning should be compulsory. It’s just part of maintaining a safe and comfortable work environment for employees!
If you’re interested in getting air conditioning for your workplace, get in touch with us at Greenmill today. We’re a friendly bunch and can help you find a trusted installer who will use us to get all the materials and equipment you need.
