Want Happier, Healthier And Higher-Performing Employees? Improve Your Office Environment

Benefits of natural light and access to nature in the workplace

 
Like any indoor environment, offices are a complex mix of environmental factors. Lighting, layout, thermal comfort, air quality, and acoustics each have a major effect on the indoor and employee experience in a workplace.
 
Research shows that companies are struggling to get this mix of factors right. By far the most common complaint about office conditions is thermal discomfort,^[1] and four in five office workers complain about the temperature.² Thermostat wars are just one way employees attempt to create the most productive office environment.
 
Second to thermal comfort is light management. Workers often use blinds or shades to block sunlight, avoid overheating, and prevent unwanted glare on their computer screens. Unfortunately, this also blocks exterior views, which research has shown can lower employees’ stress levels and even improve their health.³
 
Additionally, up to 90 percent of computer users suffer from symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome (i.e. eyestrain, tension headaches), a condition that can result from prolonged computer use and detract from productivity.⁴
 
While common approaches to maximizing work-related performance of employees center on wellness programs and perks, HR should not underestimate the importance of creating a delightful office environment. As the stewards of employee well being, what environmental improvements should HR teams consider to improve worker comfort, health and productivity?

The role of daylight is important for better health and wellness because it synchronizes employees’ daily circadian rhythm (i.e. their sleep/wakefulness cycle) to their local environment (i.e. the office). Daylight deprivation can lead workers to feel less energetic and affect their mood, even contributing to seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression. Exposure to dim light can diminish learning and memory, so companies should keep their offices bright.⁵
 
Natural light is the cure. A new study by Cornell University Professor Dr. Alan Hedge found that workers in office environments with optimized natural light reported a 56 percent decrease in drowsiness. The right amount of daylight does more than just make employees more alert, however. It also reduces glare on desks and screens. The additional benefits of natural light without consequence resulted in a 51 percent reduction in the incidence of eyestrain and a 63 percent drop in the incidence of headaches among employees, common CVS symptoms that hamper productivity.⁶

Biophilic design, which seeks to connect occupants with the natural environment, is becoming more popular in the workplace. Research shows that the ability to see and interact with natural elements is beneficial to health and well-being, and access to nature buffers job stress.⁷
 
Companies are employing a number of tactics to bring the outdoors in, from living green walls to incorporating more natural textures and patterns in furniture surfaces and floorcoverings throughout the office, which can increase productivity. Outdoor views, especially those with natural elements (e.g., grass, trees, other vegetation, water), allow for connectivity to nature, which can help employees feel more comfortable, calm and at ease, underscoring the importance of windows.⁸

While the merits of open office floor plans versus cubicle farms are frequently debated, the value of daylight in the workplace is often overlooked. Organizations should prioritize layouts that allow for as many employees as possible in proximity to natural light and outdoor views.
 
Dr. Hedge’s study found enhanced individual performance is tied to access to natural light. Workers sitting next to windows that regulate daylight reported a 2 percent increase in productivity – the equivalent of an additional $100,000 per year of value for every 100 workers.⁹
 
Workplaces have tremendous potential to make employees happy, healthy, and productive, but most fall short of delivering these benefits. Cultivating a delightful, well-regulated office environment is a surefire way to position a company for long-term success – and make HR happy.
 
References

1 Alyson Shontell, Business Insider http://www.businessinsider.com/this-is-the-1-employee-complaint-2011-2
2 Andrew Sykes https://www.andrews-sykes.com/blog/office-wars-the-costly-effect-of-temperature-related-disagreements/
3, 7 Economics of Biophilia https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/the-economics-of-biophilia/
4 Gary Heiting http://www.allaboutvision.com/cvs/productivity.htm
5 Ana Sandoiu, Medical News Today https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320887.php
6 Retrofit Magazine https://retrofitmagazine.com/research-finds-daylit-offices-reduce-eyestrain-and-headaches/
8 Rebecca Greenfield, Bloomberg https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-05/why-your-office-is-beginning-to-look-like-a-forest
9  View Dynamic Glass http://go.viewglass.com/daylight-workplace-study

Author Bio

Brandon Tinianov’s 25-year career has been dedicated to product innovation and commercialization in the field of energy efficiency and building technology. He currently serves as View’s VP of Industry Strategy where he leads the company’s workplace research and industry engagement. Prior to joining View, Brandon was the Chief Technology Officer at Serious Energy for and the Building Sciences Platform leader at Johns Manville. Visit https://viewglass.com/ Connect Brandon Tinianov