As the leading commercial air conditioning business in Las Vegas, we know how to manage the hot summers. Besides putting safety first, our business requires associates to perform at their optimum in order to keep businesses like yours just as comfortable, efficient, and productive.
Unfortunately, during the summer, excessive temperatures can affect productivity and negatively impact the reputation and profitability of any business. For this reason, a cool working environment is essential to maximize an associate’s productivity and performance. At LMS, we know first-hand how important this is, but there is plenty of data to back it up.
A research team from the University of Chicago found that work production dropped by 3% on average for every 1.8 degrees the room temperature rose above 80°. Researchers also found that productivity was restored to optimal levels by cooling the work environment.
Another study by the University of South Florida showed that the number of errors made by associates rose dramatically as the room temperature increased above 80°F.
There is also a connection between a decrease in performance and dehydration. A study published in the Journal of Applied Ergonomics found that the decline in productivity is significant (12%) even when there is just a 1% drop in body weight.
Warm environments can promote absenteeism.
Warm work environments also keep associates from showing up to work, which can have a devastating impact on productivity. A University of Chicago study found that a one-degree increase in the 10-day temperature average resulted in a 5% increase in employee absenteeism.
Is there a magic temperature?
The Helsinki University of Technology and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory shows that work performance increases with a temperature range of 69.8–71.6°F and decreases between 73.4–75.2°F. Also, researchers found women often having a lower metabolic rate would prefer rooms at 77°F compared to 72°F for men.
Yet, further evidence suggests that human performance remains relatively stable across a broad range of acceptable temperatures but then rapidly deteriorates once it gets any hotter or colder than this. The boundaries of the acceptable ranges depend on factors such as the type of task, how demanding the task is, how adverse the temperature is, skills, and motivation, to name just a few.
Benefits of Maintaining a Cool, Comfortable Work Environment
While there is no magic temperature, one thing is true: Considerable data demonstrates that a cool work environment significantly impacts the performance of associates. For example, a comfortable environment can prevent injury, reduce errors, and boost productivity. In addition, associates will experience other important benefits, including:
- Better work culture
- Improved morale
- Comfort and quality of life during work hours