The interior design and construction of a workplace can make a huge difference in worker productivity. A host of big and![\"LEED-for-commercial-interio\"](\"https:\/\/constructonomics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/LEED-for-commercial-interio-300x169.jpg\" "\\"LEED-for-commercial-interio\\"")
little things contribute how healthy, happy, satisfied and, above all, productive employees are in their work place. Among the most important of these are whether or not employees work in groups or have their own private work spaces, the amount of noise in the area where they work, the furniture layout, thermal comfort and ventilation and lighting.<\/p>\n
Studies on Relationship Between Interior Environment and Worker Productivity<\/strong><\/p>\n In a report for the International Academy of Design and Health titled\u00a0“Designing the work environment for worker health and productivity,”<\/a> Jacqueline C. Vischer, home interior decorator Los Angeles<\/a> and professor at the University of Montreal, presents the findings of several studies that investigated the effects of environmental conditions on worker performance in the office. Workplace performance is examined on two levels: Individual Task Performance (ITP) and Collaborative and Teamwork productivity (CTW.) Most of the studies done on worker performance are done on Individual Task Performance.<\/p>\n Related post: How to chose luxury lighting for your home<\/a>?<\/p>\n New Approach to Research<\/strong><\/p>\n Dr. Vischer based her research on an extension of the Adaptation Model, a model that studies the extent to which employees have to adapt to the physical conditions of their workplace. Those conditions are deemed adverse if employees are required to make excessive, stress-inducing adjustments in order to adapt to the conditions in which they have to work. She determined that user comfort was measurable in environmental and behavior terms. Therefore, effective work performance is directly related to the workplace environment.<\/p>\n What is Necessary for Effective Work Performance<\/strong><\/p>\n To study worker performance, Dr. Vischer and her team devised three separate but intricately related categories: physical, psychological and functional comfort. Physical comfort addresses overall employee health and safety. It considers responsible design decisions that respect construction and comfort standards. Psychological comfort addresses the workspace and privacy issues, employee satisfaction and environmental empowerment through choice and the information provided. Functional comfort means that the design of the workplace supports the job that workers do. A well-designed work environment results in improved employee job performance. The combination of all three types of comfort results in a positive impact on worker morale and productivity — both for individual work performance and group work.<\/p>\n Center for Disease Control – Workplace Environment Essential to Worker Health and Productivity<\/strong><\/p>\n The CDC<\/a> also stresses the importance of a well-designed work place. A healthy work environment must address the physical environment in which employees work. That includes the temperature, humidity, light, noise, ventilation and overall space. It also considers the workspace design and the equipment employees use for their given tasks, and psychological factors such as the work pace, job control and personal interactions. It also ensures that there are no chemical hazards. In short, a well-designed and healthy workplace ensures the comfort of all employees.<\/p>\n General Services Administration – New Federal Workplace Report<\/strong><\/p>\n The findings of this government report stress that a high level of workplace comfort and satisfaction is much more than a mere indication of overall employee satisfaction. The report found that when workers are dissatisfied and uncomfortable in the workplace, it is reflected in their work performance. The report went on to explain that when the ambient temperatures in the workplace are too warm, employees get drowsy and their focus declines. When glare causes lighting discomfort, employees are less able to work productively on visual tasks. They are also more likely to suffer from eyestrain and headaches. Employees who work near windows or who can at least see windows are more satisfied with their workplace, and therefore work more productively.<\/p>\n National Renewable Energy Lab<\/strong><\/p>\n In their review of literature on the\u00a0Effects of Natural Light on Building Occupants<\/a>, the National Renewable Energy Lab explains that the most important factor affecting people in buildings (and this includes all buildings, not just the workplace,) are the different spectrums that different light sources produce. Employees who work in spaces where daylight or full-spectrum lights are the main light source report that they feel better. For employers, there are considerable benefits to using daylight or full-spectrum lighting. Employees are healthier and more productive, have fewer absences from work and are more satisfied in their jobs. This type of lighting saves employers a lot of money, not just from healthier, happier and more productive employees, but in lower energy costs as well.<\/p>\n NREL Findings<\/strong><\/p>\n Their conclusion is that although construction and maintenance costs are important in building design, business owners can’t forget that their employees will work in the buildings. Employers, building designers and contractors must consider the physical and mental health of the people who will work in the building. When the design of a workplace fosters better employee health, everyone benefits because happier, healthier and more productive employees help companies increase their profits. One of the most important, yet easiest and most cost effective, ways to improve the overall atmosphere and design of a workplace is with lighting.<\/p>\n Recessed lighting is an attractive alternative to traditional fluorescent and task lighting. Unfortunately, it isn’t always capable of providing the necessary direct light that workers need. It doesn’t cause the discomfort from glare that is typical of most traditional lighting systems. It also doesn’t cause the eyestrain or headaches associated with lighting discomfort. Employers might consider recessed lighting fixtures<\/a> for areas where employees aren’t working, or in place of the huge, unattractive fluorescent lighting fixtures that are commonly used in businesses and retail stores. Daylight and full spectrum lighting is far more conducive to good health and a better mental outlook, and it is a cost-effective way for employers to invest in overall employee health.<\/p>\n Jessica is a freelance blogger and an admin for\u00a0this site<\/a> http:\/\/www.instructionsoptional.com\/<\/a>. Her interest for construction and large scale projects has stemmed from DIY and home improvement projects as well as working for a commercial water damage restoration company. She enjoys learning new technology and keeping up with the industry on Twitter (@jessstark9<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The interior design and construction of a workplace can make a huge difference in worker productivity. A host of big and little things contribute how healthy, happy, satisfied and, above all, productive employees are in their work place. 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