Lighting in the Workplace Impacts Productivity
Employers often overlook lighting and its role in the workplace, but doing so is a mistake. When a company wishes to create a workplace that is happy and healthy, one way to do so may be to provide better lighting. Research shows poor lighting has a negative impact on a person’s physical and mental health and leads to a range of health issues.
Issues Associated with Poor Lighting
When the lighting is bad, workers often struggle with eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. They are also more likely to be stressed and anxious, particularly in high-pressure situations. Sadly, humans spend a large portion of their day indoors exposed to artificial lighting, and this may bring about seasonal affective disorder or SAD and other conditions.
The Research
Staples, a company based in the United Kingdom, conducted a survey prior to the global pandemic. Researchers found that four out of five office workers stated good lighting was important to them in the workplace. Twenty percent of the respondents said they deal with poor lighting on a daily basis, while 32 percent stated they would be happier at work if they had better lighting.
As the days get shorter, people find they have less exposure to natural light, if they get any exposure at all. They may leave for work in the dark and return home in the dark. For this reason, companies need to find ways to provide workers with better lighting, and LED Light Covers may be of help with this. The good news is men and women often find they only need approximately 15 minutes of natural light to feel better.
Quality of Life
Very few regulations have been put into place regarding workplace lighting, and the lack of regulations has negatively impacted employees’ quality of life. Ample research exists that shows daylight remains the preferred form of lighting. However, daylight alone isn’t enough to light many workplaces. For this reason, workplaces should use a combination of natural and artificial light and choose artificial lighting options that can be personalized to meet the needs of the employee.
Maximum productivity comes when employees have access to cold-tone lighting in the morning. This lighting needs high illuminance for the best results. Roughly 70 percent of employees stated they would feel their employer valued them more if they were provided this type of lighting and the employer took their health and wellbeing into consideration when making lighting choices.
Personalized Lighting
When employees can personalize their lighting options, the workplace becomes more inclusive. Biodynamic lighting allows the user to adjust the light based on natural daylight levels outside. This gives the worker more control over their environment, and they become happier and more productive.
Some experts recommend placing lights with cool, daylight temperatures in the workplace. When more blue is added to the lighting scheme, workers remain more alert throughout the day. Furthermore, they report they sleep better at night, and it is believed the blue in the lights played a role. In addition, workers said they preferred it over other lighting options.
Employers need to take lighting into consideration when addressing productivity and happiness in the workplace. Lighting similar to natural daylight produces the best results by providing the illumination workers need to complete tasks. However, employers should allow workers to have control over the lighting in their environment to obtain the best results.
