Employee wellbeing / productivity
Posted: 5 September 2018
Employee wellbeing / productivity
Posted: 5 September 2018
Sylvania explores the impact of office lighting on employee wellbeing and productivity
Creating a comfortable and pleasant working environment has been shown to have a positive impact on employee productivity, wellbeing and staff retention levels. These are all attributes that make a positive contribution to the business, both in terms of tangible benefits such as improved efficiency levels, but also more intangible ones, including staff having a positive attitude towards their working environment.
So how big a part can lighting play in creating a better, healthier and more productive office environment? First let’s consider the impact lighting has on employee health. A poorly lit office can cause a number of issues including headaches and eye problems which as well as having an obvious impact on productivity levels could, if left unresolved, lead to long-term sickness and absence. Lighting that is overly harsh can be problematic too, leading to complaints such as eye strain and migraines.
Get the balance right and the opposite is true. A considered approach to an office lighting schematic ensures that the appropriate level and type of lighting is used according to area and function. Taking advantage of the quality of LED lighting with its better luminous efficacy and higher lumen output, solves the issues surrounding glare and adequate clarity, while flexible lighting solutions can optimise lighting for specific office spaces. Cooler temperature lighting helps maintain concentration while warmer lighting works well in breakout areas and communal spaces. Lighting solutions should be flexible and customizable if they are to be truly optimised. Meeting rooms will require a different solution to a large-scale open plan office with high levels of natural daylight, for example. In fact natural daylight is crucial, not only does it help keep people focused but it helps save money too – daylight sensors have been shown to reduce electricity use by up to 40%.
By taking a considered approach to fixtures, fittings and lamps and defining lighting according to purpose and location, it is possible to generate a quality of office lighting that has a positive influence on worker behaviour and productivity, while reducing energy costs. Look around a typical office and the scope to introduce more efficient lighting is immediately apparent. Empty work stations may be fully lit, corridors and low footfall areas could benefit from sensors that trigger lighting only when it is required. While we have seen improvements in motion-driven lighting, there is potential for offices to benefit even further in this area.
Lighting is estimated to account for nearly a third of overall energy consumption, so finding ways to bring this figure down, while at the same time improving the overall wellbeing of staff, is a win-win situation. At the same time initiatives such as the WELL Building Standard, which includes lighting specific recommendations, are increasingly influential in Europe. The time is right to fully understand the link between the built environment and worker wellbeing and to act accordingly.
Find out more about the role of lighting in supporting productivity and wellbeing in our eBook, ‘Introducing your New Operational Officer’