The stats are in: Women work better in warm offices.

It’s a tale as old as time - for as long as men and women have been working under the same roof, there has been a battle of control over the aircon settings.

More than a simple matter of personal preference, new studies have uncovered that females are more productive in warmer temperatures.

The opposite was true for men, although to a lesser degree.

This German study tested 543 students, where it emerged that women performed better on verbal and mathematical tests when the temperature of the room is higher. Interestingly, cognitive reflection tests were not impacted by temperature for either men or women.

These findings can have wide-reaching implications for workplace productivity - and you don’t have to make dramatic changes to experience a difference.

"People invest a lot in making sure their workers are comfortable and highly productive. This study is saying even if you care only about money, or the performance of your workers, you may want to crank up the temperature in your office buildings.”  Tom Chang, USC Marshall School of Business.

We know that women have a slightly lower body temperature than men. It should come as no surprise then that many women find themselves uncomfortable in an office setting, when the original thermal comfort model (devised in the 1960’s) was based on the metabolic rate of males. The findings of this study suggest that we should rethink these “standard” temperatures to be more inclusive.

The takeaway? When in doubt, take the temperature up a notch. The boost in female performance is likely to be larger than the resulting decrease in male productivity.

For women who are suffering through a chilly office without access to heating, it can be a great idea to rug up with jumpers, socks, scarves or even blankets to keep yourself comfortable and productive.

“Our findings suggest that gender-mixed workplaces may be able to increase productivity by setting the thermostat higher than current standards” - Battle for the thermostat: Gender and the effect of temperature on cognitive performance.

If you’re looking to improve comfort levels and energy efficiency in your office, contact the Panasonic Specialist Air Network. Our experts will help you find the ideal solution for your building and needs.

Call 1300 266 367 or send an enquiry below.