Whether you work in a large-scale corporate office or a small start-up environment, lighting plays a pivotal role in your daily life at your job. The obvious benefit of having good lighting at work is that it enables you to see better but do you know the impact it has on your productivity and well-being?

Studies show that one of the most common complaints of office workers surveyed was the quality of lighting in their office. It was noted that two simple things improved the way they felt at work and increased their productivity.

CONTROL

A well-lit office makes employees feel comfortable and happy while they go about their work. Having ample lighting for task-oriented activities is important but it goes beyond just having bright ambient lighting in the room. Employees want task lighting that they can control.

Desk lamps with a dimmer switch and swivel neck give people the flexibility to control the brightness of illumination in their workspace as well as the direction of light. This is helpful when switching between different tasks that require different levels of illumination.

The ability to customise their desk light makes employees feel comfortable because they don’t have to strain their eyes or face a glare. This reduces the risk of headaches and promotes a productive performance.

COLOUR TEMPERATURE

The human body is incredibly sensitive to sunlight and our internal wake/sleep clock, the circadian rhythm, is directly related to it. The bluish-white light of natural daylight signals to us that it’s time to be active and alert while the warm yellow light of the setting sun lets us know that it’s time to slow down and prepare for a night of rest.

That’s why installing light bulbs that are a similar colour temperature to natural daylight makes employees feel most alert and productive. The colour temperature of lighting is measured in Kelvins. The lower the Kelvins the warmer the light, the higher the Kelvins the cooler the light.

Anything 4600K and above is considered a high colour temperature, anything 3100-46000K is a mid-range colour temperature, and anything 3000K or less is a low colour temperature. High-temperature bulbs are best used in brainstorming rooms where employees need to come up with ideas and strategies.

Mid-range bulbs work well in conference rooms where employees need to engage with others. Low-temperature bulbs are best suited for break rooms where employees relax and drink coffee or eat lunch during their off time.