Close your eyes and hold your breath
Posted On: 01/09/2015 | In the Category: News, office designers, Office lighting
As Summer draws into Autumn and our days in the great outdoors (amid the downpours!) become less frequent, suddenly we’ve less chance of a bit fresh air, sunshine and blue skies.
It often throws into sharp relief the environment many workers find in their day to day work. Sadly many people can work for seven or eight hours a day, without natural light, a lack of fresh air and even in enclosed offices lacking a view of the outside.
No surprise that experts agree this is such an unnatural situation that it is having not only an effect on people’s mood, but also in many cases impinging on their health.
Clearly even the most experienced of office designers can only work with the building that they have at their disposal, but ensuring that staff do not end up with a ‘bunker’ mentality is vital.
Sometimes relatively minor changes can make a huge difference. Placing desks by the windows rather than in the centre of the room in itself can improve both light and a sense of being in touch with the outside.
Introducing lighting systems that offer daylight lux levels where appropriate can again ensure that people’s biorhythms are in touch with the time of day and preventing issues with eye strain, migraines and other symptoms of ineffective lighting.
Where possible, access to fresh air or at least appropriate air-conditioning can also make a huge difference to staff welfare, rather than forcing them to survive in a stuffy environment. Perhaps where this is difficult consideration could be given to alternative outdoor break out areas which could be used when weather allows.
In essence, create an atmosphere as close to normal as possible and the staff will reward you with better productivity, reduced absences and they’ll arrive in a much more positive frame of mind.
