In line with a growing emphasis on corporate health and wellness, there’s now an increasing awareness among occupational safety specialists and staff managers about the need to design workplaces that promote not only worker safety, but also health and happiness. This can lead to a more productive workforce, lower costly staff turnover and a more pleasant and vibrant work atmosphere.
With reference to a growing body of research that suggests the workplace environment can indeed have profound effects on employee health, satisfaction and output, here are four factors involved with achieving this goal in the context of the modern office.
Lighting the way
With the proliferation of computers in the workplace over the last 25 years, researchers have paid increasing attention to lighting. As human eyes and brains have evolved to deal with natural sunlight, the lack of this light for extended periods may have a substantial impact on our ability to function effectively.
When designing office spaces, consider fixtures that focus the majority of light upwards and provide fuller and more diffused light coverage, instead of standard, downward-focused lighting. This will lead to fewer complaints about tired eyes and screen glare and will be generally preferred by workers.
Regular exposure to natural sunlight throughout the working day may also boost productivity, with scientists finding those who spent an afternoon out in the daylight were more alert at the beginning of the evening than those exposed to artificial light [1]. As this can also carry the added health benefits of breaking up long periods of sitting, managers may want to consider encouraging short outdoor “sun breaks,” weather permitting of course.
Raise the temperature
The ability of humans to regulate their internal temperature is fundamental; it should come as no surprise then that ambient temperature plays a large role in determining level of comfort and ability to concentrate. In fact, one study showed that when temperatures were lower, at around 68 degrees F (20 degrees C), employees made 44 percent more mistakes than at an optimal room temperature of 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). This is mostly because energy that could be directed towards work tasks are directed towards warming up the body [2].
If raising a large or open work area to this optimal working temperature would be too costly or impractical, workers may find benefit from wearing gloves, putting a heating pad behind their back while sitting, or using a personal heater.
Power plants
Something else humans evolved to be familiar with is abundant green plant-life. In modern city life though, and particularly in the indoor workplace, employees are often far less involved with the natural environment. There’s evidence that this, too, can have an effect on health and happiness. Green is a color commonly associated with relaxing feeling. Adding green space to people’s everyday environment may increase how happy and healthy they feel.
Being around plants at work may also help to drive productivity, with one study showing that workers were 15 percent more productive when a few house plants were added to otherwise sparse workplaces. These plant-enriched workplaces also benefited from increased employee perceptions of air quality, concentration and workplace satisfaction [3].
Finally, the evidence for plants providing better indoor air quality goes way beyond subjective perceptions, with a study by NASA finding that many indoor plants significantly decreased concentrations of common airborne pollutants like benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde, in indoor air. Plant species such as English Ivy, Peace Lily, Florist’s Chrysanthemum and Variegated Snake Plant appeared to be the best at removing these types of harmful chemicals from the surrounding air [4].
Other factors
In industrial spaces like warehouses, there can be many sources of potential discomfort for employees, which can lead to poorer health and happiness. These include loud and/or constant noise, poor air ventilation, repetitive movements, and even a lack of unique character that fosters a sense of belonging among workers. Consider minimizing, where possible, HVAC system noise in frequently occupied spaces. Local air exhaust for smaller rooms like kitchens and restrooms should always be installed.
Where practicable, workplace layouts, equipment, and furnishings should be designed to minimize repetitive and straining movements. This can be something as simple as moving a printer so a computer user isn’t tempted to stretch uncomfortably to reach it.
Finally, managers should strive to create a “sense of place” in their workplace so that employees can feel proud and purposeful at work, and there is a sense of community among the work team. This can include items like photos and other personal effects, where safe and appropriate.
Conclusion
The movement toward maximizing worker health, satisfaction and productivity has been much more actively taken up by corporate safety directors in recent times. While this is certainly encouraging, more can definitely be done in this area, both in terms of designing smart workplaces and promoting healthy patterns of behavior at work.
With the performance of business organizations now known to be inextricably linked to the health and happiness of their workforce, there’s excellent scope for leadership on the part of decision-makers in effecting beneficial change in both these areas; and the good news is that by doing so, everyone wins.
Sources
1. Borisuit, A. et al. ‘Effects Of Realistic Office Daylighting And Electric Lighting Conditions On Visual Comfort, Alertness And Mood’. Lighting Research and Technology 47.2 (2014): 192-209.
2. http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/Conferences/EECE_IEQ%20and%20Productivity_ABBR.pdf
3. Nieuwenhuis, Marlon et al. ‘The Relative Benefits Of Green Versus Lean Office Space: Three Field Experiments.’. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied 20.3 (2014): 199-214.
4. Wolverton, B. C., Douglas, Willard L., and Bounds, K. ‘A Study of Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement’. (Report) (1989). NASA. NASA-TM-108061.
5. http://www.wbdg.org/design/promote_health.php
