A workplace dispute over a desk fan that blows cold air at a neighboring cubicle.
My coworker Brenda runs a desk fan 8 hours a day that blows cold air directly at my workspace. I've asked her three times to angle it away from me. She says it's her personal fan and she has a medical condition that makes her overheat. I went to our manager and now Brenda is furious, saying I escalated something that should've stayed between us. The manager said it's "between colleagues" and offered no solution. I brought in a space heater. Brenda complained that the combined fan + heater setup is creating a "weather system" in our cubicle row. I think she should move the fan two inches. She thinks I should wear a sweater. Our whole office has taken sides.
I have a documented medical condition called hyperhidrosis. My doctor has told me in writing that I need to stay cool or I have physical symptoms at work. The fan is my accommodation. HR is aware. I have angled it as much as I can while still getting airflow. Jordan sits two desks away and has put a cardigan on exactly once. I offered to buy a desk divider at my own expense. Jordan said no. If Jordan is cold, Jordan can wear a sweater. I cannot simply not sweat.
⚖️ The Verdict Is In
😤 Side A is right, but handled it badly
54 people weighed in on this dispute.
Official NACOL Ruling
By the authority vested in this tribunal, the Court finds that while Jordan's discomfort is acknowledged, Brenda's documented medical accommodation takes precedence at 35% juror approval versus Jordan's 33%, making this a narrow but decisive victory for the defendant, though the Court notes Jordan could have accepted a desk divider instead of initiating the escalation that now poisons an otherwise resolvable workplace dispute. The Court further observes that both parties have demonstrated the communication skills of angry badgers and recommends they utilize the aforementioned divider solution before one of them stages a dramatic fan-based revenge plot that will surely appear in this platform's next ruling. Case closed.
⚖️ Think your friends would have opinions on this?
Share the case. Let the internet weigh in — or submit your own dispute next.