Anyone ever study the effects of lighting on the workplace?

[Zeke]

The subject came up today when I heard about the guy at the window distributor I had problems with getting fired. He needs to be fired, but I began to wonder why he became the person he is.

I noticed his boss moved from the rear of the office to the front, by the only window, a couple years ago. The one other sales guy sits just the other side of a cubical divider. The problem guy sits on the other side of a devising wall with no natural light. This is the main office with all the office machines, etc. 9' ceiling with 2 x 4 drop ins, mostly likely using 'cool whites'.

I have always changed out my wife's office fluorescent tubes in favor of 'daylight' and added at least one conventional light bulb in a floor or table lamp at her desk to broaden the spectrum. I studied lighting briefly when I was doing tenant improvements, particularly markets.

Of course lighting may not be the main factor in this guy's problems. Just wondering if there are any observations on the subject.

[Seahawk]

Tons of studies on light and performance, colors as well.

I had a job in DC years ago. The office was in an old office building with really horrible light and very depressing paint on the walls. During the winter months I was driving to work in the dark, spending the day in poor lighting and driving home in the dark.

Wow what a mess.

I figured out I had to get out in the sun light as much as possible during the day...

When I was a Program Manager I actually rearranged the physical layout of the office to maximize natural light.

[imcarthur]

Yes, lighting does have an impact. In a previous life (the 70s) I sold for an electrical distributor & they sent me to an in depth year-long course which had a lighting component. It is a science. Skipping incandescent, quartz, HID, metal halide, low pressure sodium etc lighting . . . just the spectrum of fluorescent lighting is wide. Cool White, Daylight, Warm White, Warm White Deluxe, Chroma 50, Chroma 75 etc etc. For people places – as long as color correctness isn't critical - skip CW & use Warm White. It slightly enhances the red spectrum which is pleasing. Meat counters use WW or WWX. Cool White & Daylight are bluish.

Ian

[onewhippedpuppy]

Lots of studies on the topic. Lighting, layout, colors, common areas, sound, they all can have a profound effect on employee attitude, happiness, and productivity. The cubicle farm is not the ideal workplace.

In my last building there were cubicle walls blocking the large exterior windows, giving the entire place a gloomy look. I started looking into moving them, until I was told that the cubicle walls also blocked the water and air leakage through the old windows. Sigh...... Think those employees had much pride in their work environment?

[Zeke]

Well, before posting, I did Google some terms regarding light quality and personality difficulties. As you can imagine, I saw lots of irrelevant hits. That's why I put it up here.

Anyone have any specific info on lighting and personality changes? I know about the SAD effect in the PNW. Funny thing is the L.A. Times reports that the folks up in Seattle are tired of this year's endless sunshine.
Northwest -- sick of sunshine -- prepares to pull out the umbrellas - latimes.com

But, other than cloudy Seattle or London, what goes on in the office when the lights are bad. Not productivity, personality.

[Baz]

[Brando]

How much there is to know about colors, moods and lighting.

Most of my coworkers and I prefer the lights off or blocked out compared to the fluorescent bulbs we are using. I run my office at half on/off. I'm tempted to swap out all the ones in my area for warm white lights, maybe put some incandescent bulbs around, one in my office possibly to see if it does have a more positive effect in the office.

[Superman]

The "Hawthorne" studies are legendary in which they told workers they were trying to improve working conditions. Each time they changed lightbulbs, they put dimmer ones in. And productivity improved. Eventually, they were working in "bright moonlight" and productivity had never been higher.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Don't forget the Hawthorne Effect.

[recycled sixtie]

Trying not to rant too much or put this thread sideways but what irritates me a great deal is the poor quality of hotel room lighting. I know they are trying to save power but how can I can read if I have insufficient light? Are they forcing me to use their non free internet or watch blue movies on tv. It's a conspiracy. Rant over.It is so nice to be home with decent lighting.

[lane912]

Kino Flo True Match® Lamps

fluro tubes in temps that don't make you mad-

[porsche4life]

I've seen some very positive things with some of the new LED fixtures that are coming out... A much nicer light, less energy usage, and no hum.......