The feeling of being stuck in a windowless room under fluorescent lights for hours on end is not pleasant at all. A lot of people have never been able to keep traditional 9-to-5 office jobs because of this, and as an employer, you would not want to have your own employees feel the same way.
If you feel like your employees have been underperforming (despite excellent employee benefits in place), you may want to take a good look at your company’s office space. Does it have many windows or any opening that lets the sunlight in? If not, you may want to call a local glass shop real soon—because science dictates that when the sun shines, productivity soars and your business is missing out on the perks it offers in terms of productivity.
Firstly, it makes sense to understand why artificial lighting is bad in the first place. If lights are quite dim, they can cause significant eyestrain and headaches since the eyes are forced to work much harder in order to see. Dim lighting can likewise lead to drowsiness and overall lack of focus, which would have an obvious impact on employee morale and productivity. It has also been found that the stress-fighting hormone cortisol is produced in much lower quantities under artificial lighting, which means that artificial lighting literally stresses people out.
In stark contrast, natural light stands on the opposite end. Several studies have put it that natural lighting’s effect on productivity is substantial, and that an investment in lighting renovations can be quickly recuperated in terms of energy savings and productivity improvement. One good example of a turnaround is the U.S. post office in Reno, Nevada, whose employees (specifically mail sorters) turned out to be the most productive sorters in the country’s west coast, right after a lighting renovation.
So how can you do the same? You can ask a trusted commercial glass company to re-orient your office’s existing windows to maximize the benefits of ‘day-lighting’ (a concept which refers to capturing diffused light without sacrificing comfort and function). If you’re worried about sunlight heating up the office, don’t be: skylights will do the trick. If installed properly, skylights can provide natural lighting to areas where windows cannot be installed due to the elevation or the room’s overall layout. Companies, like M&M Glass, which serve the Surrey, BC area offer a variety of skylights to suit your requirements.
Sources:
Exposure To Natural Light Improves Workplace Performance, PsychologyToday.com, June 5, 2013
How Office Lighting Affects Productivity, AndrewJensen.net, April 23, 2015
Warning: Is Artificial Light Shattering Your Productivity? ALifeOfProductivity.com, July 2, 2013
Natural Lighting Strategies And Benefits, OneGreenPlanet.org, September 6, 2012