IIM-A study says ‘cooler’ offices boost productivity by 12%

Remember the last time you felt really cold in office? While it may be the fault of your office admin, who knows, it might be done purposefully to improve your efficiency! Don’t believe it? A recent study by two IIM-A professors has confirmed that controlled temperatures at workplaces can boost employee productivity.

The study, titled ‘Heat Stress and its effect on Psychological Aspects of Workers in India’ by Dheeraj Sharma and Rajesh Chandwani of IIM-A pointed out that there is a direct relation between the temperature at a particular workplace and its effect on productivity of the employees. Comforting work environment can actually improve productivity by up to 12%.

“Little attention has been devoted to the effect of increasing temperatures on worker productivity and health. Our study attempts to quantify the improvement in productivity that can be gained through establishment of cooling solutions at indoor workplaces. Indeed, according to our study, worker productivity can be enhanced up to 12%, by increasing the level of thermal comfort at the workplace,” said Sharma.
In the research, the psychological aspect was considered more than physiological effect heat can have on the human body and its work productivity.

“Our study attempts to quantify the improvement in productivity that can be gained through establishment of cooling solutions at indoor workplaces,” he added.

According to this study, tropical countries like India are likely to suffer the most from health hazards and losses in productivity due to the heat.

“Though there is substantial evidence that extreme temperatures in the workplace can adversely affect performance, there is little consensus regarding an ideal temperature at workplace. The optimal temperature for worker performance may vary. However, in the tropical countries, most of the studies have found that the optimal range of ambient temperature for enhanced worker productivity is about 25- 30 degrees Celsius,” said Chandwani.

He added that companies should offer drinking water and other hydrating solutions to ensure appropriate clothing to prevent heat related health hazards like dehydration.

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