OFFICES TOO HOT, TOO COLD AND MAKING AUSSIES MISERABLE AT WORK

One in three Australian office workers says their workplace is simply too hot

Is it worse to sit in an office that feels like a sauna, or one where you are reaching for a jumper in the middle of summer? For many

Australians heading back to work, the answer is simple: both are bad and hurting productivity.

A new survey has found that one in three Australian office workers says their workplace is simply too hot to work properly during summer, while cold, over-air-conditioned offices are also quietly taking a toll.

The research, conducted by Alliance Climate Control, surveyed 1,000 Australian adults who work in an office at least one day a week, revealing just how disruptive office temperatures can be once summer hits.

One in four say their office is comfortable. The rest are struggling.

The Office Comfort Myth

Only 25.5 per cent of respondents said their office is always comfortable during summer. Everyone else experiences some level of discomfort, whether from heat, cold, or wildly inconsistent temperatures.

More than a third of workers report their office is too hot at least some of the time, with 34 per cent saying overheating affects them on at least one in four office days.

At the extreme end, 2 per cent say their office is almost always too hot.

Cold offices are less common in summer but still far from rare. Nearly one in five workers say their office is too cold during the warmer months, with 1.7 per cent reporting it is almost always too cold.

Adding to the frustration, 5.7 per cent of workers say they regularly swing between feeling too hot and too cold, pointing to inconsistent or poorly managed air conditioning.

An Office Day Lost To Temperature

For employees who are in the office five days a week, the discomfort adds up quickly. During summer, workers spend almost a full day in the office when it's too hot and more than half a day when it's too cold.

That is time spent distracted, uncomfortable and less productive, before any actual work even begins.

When Comfort Turns Into Illness

Nearly three in four workers, or 71.7 per cent, report experiencing at least one health symptom they believe is linked to office temperature or air conditioning.

The most common complaints are sore throats or coughs, affecting 29.7 per cent of workers, followed closely by colds or flu at 29.3 per cent.

Headaches or migraines affect one in four employees, while fatigue or low energy affects almost as many.

Skin irritation, sinus congestion and even muscle or joint pain are also reported, with only 28.3 per cent of workers saying they have not experienced any illness linked to office temperature.

Productivity Takes A Hit

The impact extends well beyond physical symptoms.

Around half of all respondents say uncomfortable office temperatures slow their decision-making and leave them feeling stressed or irritable.

More than a third say tasks take longer to complete, while 43.2 per cent admit to taking more frequent or longer breaks as a result.

Office discomfort is also fuelling tension between colleagues, increasing anxiety and pushing workers to stay home rather than battle another day of bad air conditioning.

In a country famous for its climate, it seems many offices still cannot get the temperature right.

And as summer wears on, Australian workers are paying the price in health, harmony and productivity.