3 Overlooked Elements That Affect Performance In The Office

Selecting the right office furniture is an essential part of setting up a good functional workspace. But have you considered three overlooked elements that can greatly affect your work performance in the office?

3 Overlooked Elements That Affect Performance In The Office

Proper lighting, good ventilation, and minimal sound disturbances are components just as important to your office design and layout. To get that office work done in a comfortable and productive environment, here are some helpful tips:

Let in the Light
Direct natural light and indoor overhead bright lights will add glare that shines onto a computer screen or give a washed out appearance that makes it difficult for users to see work clearly. The strain of struggling to view a paled computer screen or work area contributes to eye fatigue.

Tips to avoid the effects caused by glare and wash out in the office:
To accommodate the work surface area, furniture should be arranged to avoid glare and wash out from natural and indoor lighting. Use task or desk lamps that have shades or shields that direct light away from the computer screen and avoid uneven light in your field of vision. Tilt or angle the monitor slightly away from lighting that causes the glare. Use diffusers to direct the glare of overhead lighting away from work areas.

In addition, window treatments such as shades, blinds, and drapes should be used to adjust incoming natural light during different times of the day that contribute to glare. Consider the direction your windows face, East, West, and South facing windows benefit by diminishing glare and heat with the use of solar shades or devises.

Use natural light wherever possible, it is an energy boost that promotes a positive work environment, let that sunshine in!

Breath of Fresh Air
Offices sometimes pose the problem of being too hot or too cold. A malfunctioning ventilation system that “dumps” hot or cold air onto workers, poor air circulation that creates stuffy or dry air, and fluctuating temperature levels are all contributing factors that can make it uncomfortable to be productive.

Tips that help make for a well-ventilated work environment:
Desks, office chairs and seating, tables and cabinets should be arranged to avoid being placed directly under air vents and ducts that push airflow onto people. Use diffusers to redirect airflow. The suggested ambient indoor temperature for heating ranges between 68° -74° F and for cooling from 73°-78° F. Office equipment should also be set up for proper ventilation to ensure their best operation.

If your office has good outdoor air quality, open a window and let the fresh air in, it’s a great way to energize and circulate the air while getting tasks done.

Quiet Please
Office layouts have a range of difficulties to overcome in order to provide a quiet work environment that allow workers to think and concentrate on their tasks. Noisy offices, open layouts in particular, can add stress and distraction. This can affect a worker’s performance resulting in as much as 65% less productivity!

Tips to keep it quiet and get that work done in a serene workspace:
Open layouts are sometimes a choice based on a company’s culture; this type of set up contributes to distractions with extra background noise. Using personal sound canceling earphones or ear plugs is a quick solution to this troublesome problem. Noise levels of standard office equipment (such as copiers) should be at acceptable levels and modifications made to resolve any adverse sound issues. Guidelines administered by your company’s office should be adhered to and followed. Such as, keep talking at a normal sound level, in public areas keep it low, and if there is a designated cell phone area for your personal conversations, please use it.

Light, temperature, and sound keep them in mind when you set up your office, your senses will be glad you did!