How to improve workplace productivity with office lighting

How to improve workplace productivity with office lighting

As an employer, you need to ensure the office space your employees work in fosters productivity. The interior design of your office can have a big impact on your staff’s wellbeing and their ability to fulfil their roles. Whereas a poor working environment can severely damage the morale of your employees which, in turn, can have a direct effect on your business’s growth and success.

Lighting in office space is a big factor that can make the biggest difference to productivity in the workplace, yet it’s something so many employers neglect to pay attention to when designing their office.

Why Good Office Lighting is Important for Workplace Productivity

If you’re thinking about revamping your office, or if you’re looking for a way to improve productivity and wellbeing amongst your employees, you should focus on lighting. Not only can it enhance the aesthetics of your office, but it can greatly impact the well-being and morale of your employees, too.

Consider Natural Sunlight

The impact natural sunlight has on wellbeing cannot be understated. Humans are hardwired to perform well in nature, as evidenced by the countless benefits that can be reaped through surrounding yourself with plants and greenery. The same goes for lighting. Not only do people feel more at ease and comfortable in natural light, but it can greatly reduce health complications that may otherwise hinder productivity.

Up to 84% of employees who work in offices flooded by natural light reported fewer headaches, eye strain, and blurry vision. When affected by such issues, employees will naturally feel distracted and not perform at their best, therefore slowing productivity.

By harnessing the power of sunlight and positioning your employees’ seating as close to windows as you can, you’re reducing the chances of them suffering from eye and headache issues, therefore allowing them to remain healthy and productive. According to the same research, workers who sit close to windows are 2% more productive. This might not sound like much, but in terms of revenue and potential output, it could be a considerable amount for your company.

Think about the placement of desks and furniture. To get the most out of the available light, you want to ensure windows remain clear so that light can stream into your office space, and you also want to make sure each employee gets equal access to natural light. This means keeping furniture around the edge of the office where possible to maximise space and light exposure.

Healthy Artificial Lighting

It’s not possible for workplaces to rely solely on natural light, whether that’s because your office doesn’t have lots of big windows, light is blocked by neighbouring buildings, or because the sun sets early and daylight hours are limited during the winter months. There will always be an element of artificial light required, but there’s slightly more to it than simply installing fluorescent tube lights overhead.

Using LED lights is a great option in your office. Firstly, they’re far more sustainable than halogen lights and have a much longer lifespan, meaning you won’t need to change them as often or spend as much on your lighting costs. This is valuable from a business perspective in terms of outgoings, but the biggest benefit of switching to LED can be felt in relation to staff wellbeing.

Many LED lights come with the option to change the colour temperature. This means you can choose cooler white tones or warm yellow tones depending on the area. Research has shown that employees tend to be more focused when working under whiter light as it encourages higher levels of focus and concentration. With this in mind, opting for cool-toned LEDs in the main working area is a smart way to help increase productivity.

In comparison, warmer toned lighting has been shown to work better in reception areas and communal areas. This is because warmer shades of yellow light promote relaxation and comfort. When these lights are placed in a reception area, guests will feel more at ease and welcomed. In communal areas, employees will feel as though they can unwind more and take a well-deserved break in a soothing atmosphere.

You need to ensure every area is well lit to avoid eye strain, otherwise, you will find your team is more focused on straining to see their keyboards than they are with the task at hand.

Lighting for Remote Working

Working from home has become a part of how many businesses operate, with lots of companies offering flexi-time to their workers following the pandemic. As an employer, it’s a good idea to stress to your employees that maintaining good light is essential, even when working from home. Not everyone will have a home office with lots of light flooding in, in which case the artificial lighting best practices listed above will help.

Being in a home environment, you may find that your employees prefer warmer light in their workspace, but you need to highlight how detrimental this can be. As mentioned, yellow tones can make us feel relaxed, and this can lead to tiredness and a lack of focus. It’s a good idea to consider supplying your employees with high-quality LED lights they can use at home whilst working remotely.

This will ensure they have the same concentrated environment to work in and complete their tasks, whether they’re in the office or at home. You may be able to supply LED bulbs that can fit their overhead lights or even an LED lamp they can place on their desks. Managing a team working remotely can be difficult, but by ensuring they have the proper lighting, you can rest easier knowing they have all the tools they need to be productive.

Summary

There are many things to consider when designing an office space, ranging from ergonomic furniture and desk space to wall colour and flooring choice, but remember to put lighting at the top of your list. It can have a far bigger impact on productivity and morale than many people think, and it could be the difference between your employees managing an efficient work output versus feeling drained.