I work at a firm that is in a beautiful historical building, protected by the historical society.

Because of this, they are unable to update the building without approval from the society.

It is absolutely freezing in the building, as we cannot replace the original windows. The kicker is that my boss has actually put a lock box over the thermostat so we can't raise the heat if we are cold. Space heaters blow the circuits so right now we are working in our coats and gloves. WTF????

I'm sure there's other people here employed in lousy working conditions.

Posted by Debi I work at a firm that is in a beautiful historical building, protected by the historical society. Because of this, they are unable to update the building without approval from the society. It is absolutely freezing in the building, as we cannot replace the original windows. The kicker is that my boss has actually put a lock box over the thermostat so we can't raise the heat if we are cold. Space heaters blow the circuits so right now we are working in our coats and gloves. WTF???? I'm sure there's other people here employed in lousy working conditions.

lol... ever work in a paper mill?

NO - BTW, did you ever resolve "The Color Purple" issue????

Posted by Debi NO - BTW, did you ever resolve "The Color Purple" issue????

?
i don't remember this one.

Posted by Debi I work at a firm that is in a beautiful historical building, protected by the historical society. Because of this, they are unable to update the building without approval from the society. It is absolutely freezing in the building, as we cannot replace the original windows. The kicker is that my boss has actually put a lock box over the thermostat so we can't raise the heat if we are cold. Space heaters blow the circuits so right now we are working in our coats and gloves. WTF???? I'm sure there's other people here employed in lousy working conditions.

I know up here historical buildings can only br protected for one year. And only the exterior can be protected. Check into the interior rules.

Oh, and go get a toque.

Does where you work have an Occupational Health and Safety Act or some such legislation? I bet that it would trump preservation legislation because people are always protected before Things are.

I would look into the minimum temperature requirements and other environmental requirements.

Good points; and I can respect the historical society position; the problem is more my boss who has locked down the thermostat. We dont HAVE to be cold. He's just a jackass.

Sam; weren't you nearly passing out at work when you were mixing some purple substance . . . . ??? Sorry, maybe it wasn't you. Actually it sounds much more like a very weird dream . . .

Posted by Debi Good points; and I can respect the historical society position; the problem is more my boss who has locked down the thermostat. We dont HAVE to be cold. He's just a jackass. Sam; weren't you nearly passing out at work when you were mixing some purple substance . . . . ??? Sorry, maybe it wasn't you. Actually it sounds much more like a very weird dream . . .

oh yeah... my reactor tests.

yeah, they give me a wicked head buzz for some reason. Still haven't figured it out!
Sorry bout that... they say the mind is the first thing to go.

Posted by Debi the problem is more my boss who has locked down the thermostat. We dont HAVE to be cold. He's just a jackass.

Does your workplace not have a Joint health and safety Committee? (or some American incarnation of) that you can approach to remedy this? I bet pressure from them would make him give in. Or a snap Inspection from the Ministry of labour (or equivalent), would compel him as well.

Posted by Debi I work at a firm that is in a beautiful historical building, protected by the historical society. Because of this, they are unable to update the building without approval from the society. It is absolutely freezing in the building, as we cannot replace the original windows. The kicker is that my boss has actually put a lock box over the thermostat so we can't raise the heat if we are cold. Space heaters blow the circuits so right now we are working in our coats and gloves. WTF???? I'm sure there's other people here employed in lousy working conditions.

I can relate - my company's building dates back to the 1950s. Also, I swear they turn the temperature down after 5pm, despite this being a 24/7 operation.

This time last year I worked in a delightful shithole in a huge warehouse,on a platform close to the ceiling,that still had the windows propped open. No heat whatsoever,and despite having gloves there were a couple days when a few of us left because our fingers couldn't move anymore because of the cold.

The management and owners (who are/were pocketing millions of dollars of city money on the sly by selling product meant to be recycled here),said that it was pointless to heat our area,what with all the gaps in the walls and such. I recall a few times where the owner would pull up in a Hummer,dressed in a suit and would pace along behind us to make sure he was getting his 9.00 an hour's worth out of us.

We worked amongst three story high piles of 'recyclables' (half of it usually trash and rotting food) that was rife with live or freshly mangled rats that would come down the sorting line at times. A couple of people were also stuck with needles,and getting your arm or hand cut open with shards of glass wasn't uncommom,either.
Our lunchroom was condemned by the city because rats had been living in the walls,under the fridge and had gotten into the vending machine,so an unheated trailer thingy outside was provided,which soon enough also became infested with rats,so most people chose to continue eating in the condemned lunchroom,which was permitted,and the smell of rat piss could knock you over.

The summer,of course was another thing altogether,people passing out from the heat and the stench of rotting garbage. I had the fortune of getting laid off,so I took EI for the first time in my life and can't say that I feel all that bad about not returning....

Geez Wiccan; thank you for making me grateful for my working environment!

Sounds like a Hepatitis manufacturing plant.

Indeed it is,Debi.Glad I made ya feel better,I hope something's done about the heat at you work place!

We used to get tours of horrified school kids coming through the plant,and we'd smile and tell them, "get your education,kids,or you'll wind up here!"

Posted by Wiccan Indeed it is,Debi.Glad I made ya feel better,I hope something's done about the heat at you work place! We used to get tours of horrified school kids coming through the plant,and we'd smile and tell them, "get your education,kids,or you'll wind up here!"

Now that's what I would call "Motivation"!

Posted by atomx I know up here historical buildings can only br protected for one year. And only the exterior can be protected. Check into the interior rules. Oh, and go get a toque.

Strange but I was told the protection varies from building to building. (I learned this while my group was getting the Regent theatre designated).
Depending on the building, the protection is extended to what features are deemed worth protecting. Some buildings, only the exterior, other buildings, the interior and other buildings have the entire building protected. Best to look into this particular building's designation. Also, the protection continues until the City approves the owner's objection to it through a written approval or lack of response within so many days (ie Fothergill house) or until something happens to the building that renders it beyond repair and unsafe for occupancy (ie fire, neglect or natural disaster). There was a beautiful church on Avenue road that was designated but a suspicious fire that broke out about 10 years ago damaged it beyond repair. The city had no choice but to issue a demolition order as the building was too far gone to be saved.

There's a possibility that the windows could be upgraded without destroying the characteristics of the building (through the board's approval of course) and putting in the necessary wiring for extra heaters can be done without disrupting the building's characteristics. These fall under the term of "Sympathetic Renovations"
The only draw back is this can be expensive.

I work on a 100 degree line in a kitchen on my feet busting my ass for 7 hours straight. And I have to smell the same old smell of Chili's all the fucking time. But at least I don't have to be in the cold.....

Posted by Sinister Crayon I work on a 100 degree line in a kitchen on my feet busting my ass for 7 hours straight. And I have to smell the same old smell of Chili's all the fucking time. But at least I don't have to be in the cold.....

I do the same in my day job. I work on a food assembly line in a hospital. I do however have to endure the hell of cold.
Our assembly line is located in a 9° room. it fucking sicks.

The place I work was abandoned for over 30 years... filled with mould, asbestos, leaking roofs, etc, etc, etc. It's cold as fuck. And my boss is an asshole. I have enough respiratory problems to kill a horse.

I work for a misogynistic asshole who thinks men can and should sit on their asses all day long and do absolutely nothing while women bust ass and that they should do every fucking thing that he or another man says.
I'm sorry, but I don't think this way, my stepfather...well...he expects the same treatment.
Anyway, it's either too hot or too cold where I work, my boss is an asshole who hates women and thinks we need to be "put in our place", his words, not mine.
The worst part, it's not just my boss, it's bosses in most departments all over the mill that believe women are inferior. I would rather be treated as badly or as well as a man than be treated differently than a man. The whole situation wouldn't bother me half as much if he treated the men as badly as he treats the rest of us.

Shael

Ah, you work for the Alpha-Male, as do I. My boss actually made a statement saying that he doesn't feel the need to give us (girls) raises, because we all have husband's at home to take care of us.

Are you kidding me? Talk about male chauvanism.