Thermostat wars! Czechs are freezing at work

A new survey found that a large number of Czech workplaces aren't as warm as they should be

Katrina Modrá

Written by Katrina Modrá Published on 09.01.2019 14:58:09 (updated on 09.01.2019) Reading time: 1 minute

We’ve covered the Czech hatred of air-conditioning and the battles over keeping cool at work during the summer months.

But what about wintertime in the Czech office? Are you bundling up in extra sweaters or sweating it out due to overheating in your workplace?

According to a new survey by Preventado, a Czech company devoted to occupational health and ergonomic safety, every third Czech employee complains about winter at work, while 42% of Czechs cannot regulate the office temperature.

Temperature in the workplace and the protection of employees from cold is subject to government regulation. The optimal temperature for “demanding” office work should be between 21°C and 23°C. The survey found, however, that 34% of Czech offices do not meet temperature levels required for a comfortable workplace.

“The employer is obliged to ensure adequate temperature in the workplace or protection against cold. However, according to our findings, the workplace is often under-heated, as confirmed by the survey results. Almost 30% of working Czechs, according to the survey, complain that they cannot regulate the temperature in their work,” said Preventado spokesperson Radim Pektor.

The survey also found that most Czechs (59%) prefer a temperature between 20 and 22 degrees, while thermostat wars are often divided along gender lines: the ideal room temperature for women was a higher temperature than men.

With a slushy mix of snow and rain predicted for this week, we hope your office remains generously heated and supplied with warm beverages!

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