Toronto Hydro poll finds workers willing to forgo pantyhose and suit jackets if employers ease up on air conditioning
The complaints of 'meat locker' syndrome in offices across the city are on the rise, according to Toronto Hydro's second annual Peak Out poll.
The survey of 736 Torontonians in the middle of July found that people are leaving their office or workspace and going outside to warm up. Forty per cent of respondents said they have to wear warmer clothes because workplace air conditioning is too high. This is up from 37 per cent last year.
Last year 25 per cent of Toronto workers found it 'too cold' in their workplace. Despite a media campaign urging employers to conserve energy and turn down air conditioning, 28 per cent of workers this year report their workplace is too cold.
The majority of respondents would be willing to dress more casually if employers would turn down the air conditioning to make the workplace warmer:
- 77 per cent would support men wearing short-sleeved shirts to the office to conserve air conditioning.
- 75 per cent would support no suit jacket required in the office and seven-in-ten (71 per cent) workers support no tie required.
- 80 per cent of women support pantyhose not being required.
- 38 per cent support men wearing sandals and 34 per cent men wearing capri pants. Workers between ages 18-34 support sandals and capri pants the most (47 per cent, and 44 per cent respectively). Women especially like the idea of men wearing capri pants (44 per cent) to conserve air conditioning, as do workers who are single (42 per cent).
