How record-breaking heat kills productivity

It isn’t just you that’s been feeling the heat; this summer has been a scorcher in the US. Power outages across the nation have been a side effect of our effort to beat the heat. Beyond the interruptions to the day-to-day grind, it’s also harming something that no worker (or business) wants to comrpomise: productivity.

According to research by the Copernicus Climate Change Service, June recorded its warmest temperatures on record in North America. The month’s average temperature was more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit higher than where it usually is. You’ve felt the heat if you work outside, commute, or even work from home and have to decide when to turn on the air conditioning. It’s a factor in your success and it could be taking a toll in multiple ways.

Warmer conditions slow productivity

A study by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago in 2018 discovered that workers in a garment manufacturing company were affected by the heat of their working conditions; productivity fell by 4% when temperatures reached 80.6 degrees. Productivity wasn’t the only thing harmed in this study; researchers noted that workers were 5% more likely to be absent at work when temperatures were warmed.

“Skipping work might reflect the fact that sustained heat causes fatigue, illness, or worse—problems everyone must deal with, regardless of the conditions at the workplace itself,” said Anant Sudarshan, a researcher from the study.

As The Swaddle pointed out, temperature also affected students during exam-taking. In one study, students without air conditioning scored 13% lower than others on tests, and other researchers found that a 10 degrees difference in temperature amounted to an 11% lower likelihood of passing a test.

Beyond productivity, hotter temperatures can also hurt your wallet. A study by economists at the University of Illinois and University of California, Berkeley in 2014 found that days that averaged 77 degrees resulted in reducing one’s income by about $5 per day compared to cooler days.

How hot (or cold) your office should be

In the office, not everyone is on the same side of the temperature battle. In offices where temperature can be changed with a thermostat or a quick ping to maintenance, there’s also the never-ending battle over which temperature works best for everyone.

One study found that women performed better and had higher productivity when they worked in higher temperatues, while men performed better in colder settings.

So, what’s exactly the sweet spot for all workers? Although research is scant, one review said that the ideal temperature for typical office work – calling clients, text processing – is 71.6 degrees. If anyone argues with that, just tell them this is a productivity issue.