Cut Cost and the Heater!!

In the current economy, “Cut Cost!!” has become the new campaign. Everyplace I visit, I see an impact of bad economy and resulting cost cutting. Big cost cutting drives include layoffs and shutting down of plants. Along with these big changes, there are few noticeable small changes. For example, a restaurant that usually serves a mint chocolate with the bill pushed only the bill to our table yesterday, a gas station that had televisions at each terminal have none now.   

My company has been trying to cut costs as well. In an effort of continuous reduction of cost, they have dropped the temperature of the building by few degrees. I am still unsure of how much the drop is. However, those degrees of separation is certainly felt by me. The temperature has dropped close to the uncomfortable point for me. My hands are numb even as I type this blog. So why am I typing this at work? It is because I am having a hard time working in this temperature. I am wearing my thick winter jacket and rubbing my hands every few minutes to keep myself warm. Few more degrees down and I will have to wear my gloves and winter cap. The hot cup of coffee is giving me company to remain warm while regular walk on the floor is ensuring that my body doesn’t get stiff in this cold. Is there a logical rationale behind doing all this?   

There are various experiments performed in the field of ergonomics that discuss the importance of optimal temperature at a workplace. There is definitely a relationship between temperature and productivity. Howthrone had performed various such experiments during the depression period (ironically). And results of those experiments hold true even today. As the temperature increases, the productivity increases until the optimal point. Right now, the only thing that has a positive correlation with the temperature is the stock price. As the stock price plunges, the temperature of my building drops as well. The question is how low can both go?   

On a second thought, I am fine with the temperature going down. If this cost cutting is going to save someone their job, then I am willing to fight this cold inside the work and outside as well. In this bad economy, it is survival of the fittest and I take this as a challenge where the workplace is testing our determination to pass the hurdle and to weather the storm. So I am fine working in this cold even though I have to run to the restroom more times than I usually do. Understanding this trend, I am sure that the next level of test will be when I will not find toilet paper in the restroom. That will be another strategy to cut cost. I just hope that before anything like that happens, either the market improves or spring arrives.