Petty conflicts in the workplace
The Globe and Mail recently ran an article about unusual, and quite petty, conflicts in the workplace. In this case, battles over the thermostat:
“Our offices were controlled by the same thermostat, and he was always hot while I was always cold,” she recalls. “We literally argued about it every single day.”
The tension between Ms. Wesson and her former boss got so bad, they finally decided to have a meeting. The outcome? The thermostat stayed under her boss’s control but Ms. Wesson was allowed to bring in a space heater to put under her desk.
Battling over thermostats? It might be more common than you think. Of the thousands of people who responded to an online poll the Globe conducted, over two-thirds of people report bickering in their workplaces over setting the thermostat.
It might seem a trivial source of conflict, but let’s face it, these things have a way of expanding, even running out of control. Workplace conflicts can be petty, irritating and vicious.
Of course, one can’t help but wonder whether these conflicts are the result of people feeling unhappy in their jobs. But regardless, it’s worth being on guard for this sort of thing. Wouldn’t want to start an office war over a little needle, after all …