Office Lighting: Does your Office Need to Lighten Up?

Like airplane food, office lighting is a perpetual punch line due to its universally poor reputation. Employees jokingly refer to the typical fluorescent office lights as "prison lighting" or "dressing room lighting." While it may be tempting to write this off as employee high spirits, the truth is lighting in the workplace is very important.

No matter how nice your new cubicle system and other office furniture look, poor lighting makes workers feel-and produce-like they are working in a sub-par environment. Conversely, warm and beautiful lighting is one of the more subtle but sophisticated undertones of a stylish, ergonomic office space.

Not only does quality lighting provide a ray of graciousness for clients, research concludes that good lighting can impact office performance and productivity, protect against eyestrain and loss of energy, and create a more successful work environment. As you plan your office move or office furniture upgrade, don't forget to consider upgrading your lighting as well!

Don't shroud your brand-new cubicle systems in semi-darkness. Not only is keen visual clarity essential for performing tasks, but there are other benefits of lighting that could heighten productivity. Quality lighting can also boost spirits, affect stamina levels and increase speed and precision of work. With the influx of technology and multimedia, lighting needs to be fluid enough to adapt to worker's diverse duties. Today's employees spend ample time squinting at their computer screens, reading white papers, dialing numbers, and chatting with colleagues and clients. The lighting system you select must be nimble enough to appropriately illuminate all of these activities. Lighting hazards like computer glare or harsh glows should be minimized. Adjustable options like dimmers can go a long way to accomplishing the necessary level of flexibility.

The lighting you select must also accommodate both communal and individual needs within your new cubicle systems. Integrated lighting controls are the master light-switches most offices feature because they conserve energy while supporting multiple work tasks. However, they generally disperse only one level of light for the whole office. Because each employee's lighting needs will vary based on their age, eyesight, and personal preferences, supplementary solutions must be provided. Avoid window-blind wars and light-switch stalemates by providing each worker with individual lighting options, such as lights that mount under the overhead cabinets in their cubicle to use if they need more light than their neighbor. Cubicle systems can also be clustered based on lighting needs and use lower panels and glass to allow more natural light to reach the user.

Bottom line? Don't hide those gorgeous new cubicles under mediocre bulbs. Show them off and support your workers when you shed some light in the office.