Bundle Up, Ladies: Science Proves Offices Really Are Too Cold For Women

Ladies, if you think it’s cold in your office—it is. It’s not just all in your head, and there’s a study to prove it. So, throw on a sweater and keep reading.

Today cites a study in the journal Nature Climate Change which points out that the temperatures in many office buildings are set to suit the resting metabolic rate for a 154-pound, 40-year-old man.

So, if you’ve ever noticed that your male co-workers seem to be almost enjoying the frigid temperatures, it’s because they are. You have a business model that dates back to the ‘50s and ‘60s to thank for it, too.

The workplace dynamic may have changed a lot since back then, but for some reason, the air conditioning method hasn’t. According to Fortune, the average office air conditioning is set to 70 degrees.

“Women tend to have lower basal metabolic rates, so they tend to burn off energy a lot slower,” Dr. Devi Nampiaparampil of NYU School of Medicine told USA Today. “They actually give off less heat than men, so they tend to be colder.”

The New York Times pointed to a study that shows people are more productive when it’s 74 to 76 degrees. So, is it just me or does it need to get hot in here?

Female employees, I guess our options are: dress like you’re in the Arctic, bring a supply of winter clothing to wear at work, or talk to your boss about the fact that you’re giving off less heat than your male coworkers.

Because seriously, when it comes to that thermostat—there’s got to be a happy medium, right?