There are many factors that everyone knows affect workplace productivity, but there is one important factor that is often overlooked by employers everywhere: lighting. Of course, it’s well known that reading in the dark can strain your eyes, but did you know the right office lighting has effects well beyond that? Did you know that an employer’s choice of lighting can have a significant impact on the productivity of the company? In fact, there has been a huge amount of research completed recently in lighting and productivity and some of the results are astounding. Let’s have a further look…
The Importance of Natural Light
We’ve all felt it, we know how taking a walk in the sunshine on a gloriously bright day can improve your mood. This is the basis behind much of the research conducted into how lighting affects productivity. It has shown that natural light significantly increases employee productivity. In addition to this, having natural light in the workplace also leads to more satisfied employees that are willing to remain with the company, helping the business retain its staff and reduce costs associated with employee turnover.
According to research by the department of design and environmental analysis at Cornell University, employees who were exposed to natural light in the office reported an 84% drop in eye strain, headaches and blurred vision. Research from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine also showed that exposure to natural light helps regulate hormones and keeps your circadian rhythm in check, helping employees sleep soundly at night ready to then work more productively the next day.
This is just one reason why we make sure all our workspaces at both The Tannery and Calls Wharf have plenty of natural light flooding in, and the extra-large windows both these heritage buildings offer makes the natural lighting even better. On top of that, we’ve also invested in outdoor workspaces at both buildings: our riverside terrace at Calls Wharf and the rooftop terrace at The Tannery, so people working here can get an even bigger dose of natural light.
Benefits of Natural Light in the Workplace
-
Creates a bright and welcoming atmosphere.
-
Increased employee productivity.
-
Boosts vitamin D.
-
Encourages better sleep.
-
Reduced energy costs.
-
Creates a connection to the outdoors for improved mental health and general wellbeing.
-
Increased energy levels.
-
Greater overall employee worker satisfaction.
LED vs Fluorescent lighting
Recently there has been a large trend towards LED lighting being used in the workplace. LED lights are preferred as an energy-efficient alternative to the standard fluorescent lights as they’re likely to save a company money in the long term. This is because LED lights generally have a longer lifespan than fluorescent lights and don’t use excess energy in the form of infrared radiation the way fluorescent lights do. LED lighting has also been shown to be more beneficial to the health of employees. Although it’s unlikely that fluorescent lights could cause migraines, they may trigger symptoms of migraines in people who are predisposed to them. Add to this the fact that many employees are often at the office while it's dark outside, fluorescent lights can also interfere with sleep patterns by inhibiting the production of melatonin. LED lights, on the other hand, can usually be dimmed to match the time of day and the season, making them a better choice for the health of employees.
Colour Light
The colour temperature of the lighting is also an important factor to consider as this has also been linked with productivity in the workplace. A gentler, yellow light with a lower colour temperature is better for reception areas, meeting rooms and breakout spaces, while whiter/bluer lighting encourages more focused work and is best used to illuminate task-based areas. Offices that are able to adjust their colour temperature throughout the day to mimic our daily rhythms have been shown to best support employee wellbeing and overall productivity. In the morning, light should ideally be brighter and cooler to help employees stay alert and concentrate, then, as the day goes on, the lighting should be warmer, helping employees to wind down.
Office lighting & productivity
Whether an office’s light source is natural, artificial, bright and blue or dim and yellow, the type of light that employees are exposed to not only impacts mood, circadian rhythms and physical health but also affects productivity and creativity. The right lighting has been shown to improve an employee’s mood, alertness, energy, and overall general wellbeing, which in turn has a significantly positive impact on their productivity.
If you’re on the hunt for your ideal office space, then get in touch now to see what spaces we have available and how we can tailor these to suit your needs, including installing additional lighting to suit the space and your business.