Benefits of natural light for a productive workplace

Employees want more natural light sources in the workplace

Workplace amenities like gym access or a fancy espresso machine are nice luxuries, but employee surveys consistently show that workers value basic quality of life more. In various surveys, natural light is one of the most desired aspects of an office. In 2018, a survey of North American workers found that access to natural light was the most desired feature of an office environment, far ahead of amenities like cafeterias and on-site gyms.

Natural light enhances an office space because it improves mood and productivity throughout the day and work week. That fancy espresso machine might brighten up the morning a little, but it doesn't help much when you have to work 8+ hours a day in a cramped, dark space. Below we take a look at some studies and research that demonstrate the effects and health benefits of natural light in the office.

With natural light, employees are more engaged and productive at work

The World Green Building Council reports that people feel more engaged in their work when they work in natural light. More engagement leads to better work and happier employees. If you can give employees more access to light, it can be a key factor that gives the office a competitive edge over the dingy cubicles of competitors.

Better light, more productivity: A 2018 workplace study found that employees in offices with natural light had 84% less eye strain, headaches and blurred vision. "The study found that optimising the amount of natural light in an office significantly improves employee health and wellbeing, leading to productivity gains," said Dr Alan Hedge, who led the study. "As companies become increasingly keen to empower their employees to work better and be healthier, it's clear that accommodating them in office spaces with optimal natural light should be one of their first considerations."

More natural light sources mean fewer sick days: It's not just about engagement and productivity. Natural light can actually improve employee health and resilience. A long-term study found that employees with access to good light and views took significantly fewer sick days than those without windows. Employees with windows were on average 6.5 fewer sick days per year, the equivalent of a full workweek of natural light. Given this data, it makes sense to provide employees with as much light and windows as possible - a major paradigm shift away from rewarding a few with the "corner office."

Employees are more alert in daylight: A Swiss study examined the alertness and mental acuity of employees who were exposed to daylight in accordance with their natural circadian rhythm. It was found that employees were more alert in the late afternoon when they were exposed to daylight frequently, while they were sleepier in the afternoon when they only worked under artificial light. Light is not only an advantage in the workplace, but a productivity advantage for well-lit offices and a significant disadvantage for offices without windows and views.

Better mental acuity and work performance with natural light: In the same Swiss study, people performed significantly better on cognitive tasks when repeatedly exposed to daylight, while they performed worse when exposed to artificial light. This is consistent with other research that our bodies and cells need light at different wavelengths for optimal mental acuity and cognitive performance.

The author of the above study concluded: "Even short-term light conditions in the afternoon had an impact on cognitive performance in the evening." She added: "Such a relationship could be crucial for workers who require high levels of attention and executive functions, such as bus drivers, industrial workers in sensitive areas or air traffic controllers."

The sleep-promoting effect of natural light in the workplace: Employees in well-lit offices also sleep better. Neuroscientists at Northwestern University found that employees who work near windows sleep an average of 46 minutes more per night. Employees without windows had more sleep problems and even more physical problems. These results are confirmed by clinical research on natural light and sleep.