Are we required to keep workplace a certain temperature?

state employees at work, but contributions by employees must be voluntary. Employees may not be pressured or coerced into contributing. State agencies also may hold fundraising activities, such as rallies, fairs, sales, and contests, to benefi t the AUW. These activities, however, may not run afoul of the State Ethics Code. In general, “inhouse” fundraisers that are limited to agency employees are less likely to raise ethics concerns than fundraisers that are extended outside an agency to the public or to private businesses. Agencies should contact the State Ethics Commission for guidance before soliciting any donations for a fundraiser from outside sources.

From Hawaii State Ethics Commission.

Are we required to keep the workplace a Are we required to keep the workplace a certain temperature? certain temperature? Submitted by Rey Domingo Submitted by Rey Domingo

Not necessarily. There is no requirement for employers to maintain a certain workplace temperature under federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, nor are there specifi c OSHA standards for occupational heat exposure.

We can reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses to employees exposed to hot indoor environments by implementing engineering controls that make the work environment cooler, such as air conditioning and ventilation, and work practices such as instituting work/rest cycles, drinking water often and providing an opportunity for workers to build up a level of tolerance to working in the heat. Employees who work in traditional offi ce environments have a lower risk of indoor heat exposure, and although there is no standard related to indoor offi ce temperature, the OSHA technical manual recommends employers maintain workplace temperatures in the range of 68-76 degrees Fahrenheit.

Indoor air temperature preferences vary by individual. While one worker may shiver and reach for a sweater during the summer with the thermostat set on 70 degrees, another worker may break a sweat. Finding a happy medium can often be diffi cult, but consider the bottom line: “Temperature is certainly a key variable that can impact performance,” according to a Cornell University study. Aside from productivity, offi ce temperature can also have a negative eff ect on morale, and allowing employees some fl exibility in regulating indoor temperature can increase job satisfaction.

From Society of Human Resource Management