First and foremost, in an office environment, personal space heaters are safety hazards. Since the company does not provide a space heater, staff will typically bring them from home. The company is liable for this equipment and its operation. Space heaters consume a large amount of energy for only 1 or 2 people, and they are expensive to operate. For comparison purposes, consider that 20 fluorescent light fixtures with 2 lamps in each fixture cost about the same to operate per month as one space heater.
Electric heat is the most efficient heat available. However, typical personal space heaters use a fan to push cooler air across an electrically heated element, considerably reducing the efficiency. Space heaters have become very common in the workplace, in the warehouse as well as the office areas. But every building has a heating system. Why isn’t it doing the job it is supposed to do, keep everyone warm?
If a buildings’ heating system is working properly and balanced, as designed, there should be no requirement for personal space heaters. As usual, you can’t please everyone all of the time. Common sense would suggest that those who are temperature intolerant should dress more appropriately to suit their personal temperature preference (or at least have a sweater on hand). Would it be a good idea that the majority wear Hawaiian shirts because one or two are uncomfortable in an acceptable room temperature?