Horrible Boss Refuses To Let Employees Touch The A/C Even As Office Hits 90 Degrees, People Respond With Clever Advice

There’s always that manager—the one who treats the office thermostat like a sacred artifact. Unfortunately for one employee on Reddit, theirs went full tyrant and banned anyone from adjusting the A/C… even as temperatures inside crept toward 90 degrees.

The post, shared in r/antiwork, quickly sparked a wave of replies—some angry, some hilarious, and a few offering very creative ways to make the boss feel the heat.

Because if there’s one thing the internet agrees on, it’s that no one should have to sweat through their job and their clothes.
u/snwflkobsidian

1. First, u/snwflkobsidian asks:

r/antiwork

2. OP Posted an image of a thermostat whose temperature read 87℉ (30.5℃). Underneath the screen, the boss (allegedly) had written “DO NOT TOUCH” in black marker.

r/antiwork

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7. Walking out really isn’t an option for the OP.

8. Even HVAC pros were chiming in on ways to hack it.

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13. OP’s boss took notice of the viral post on Reddit:

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15. Boss apparently won’t even let them have a fan.

More responses to this horrible, borderline cruel in support rolled in:

“I was literally just in a Home Depot with no AC and it was miserable.” said u/BillyTalent87.

“Probably made you want to rush your shopping too, didn’t it? Stores lose money when they don’t make the shopping environment comfortable.” said u/Amazing_Current5610.

“Red touches yellow, that’ll chill a fellow” said u/Astute-Brute.

“White touches black, that’s a heart attack.” said u/Clickrack.

“OSHA goes off the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) which was last updated in 2016. There is no set temperature just recommendation to limit heat exposure and best practices. Also the business will usually be fined a minimal amount for failure to provide safe practices free from risk of heat exposure and the fine is very minimal. $100-300.” said u/GloomyDeal1909.

What do you think? We’ve all had bad bosses, but this one seems sadistic, no?

Jason Mustian

Jason Mustian

Jason is a Webby winning, Short-Award losing humor writer and businessman. He lives in Texas with his amazing wife and four sometimes amazing kids.