How The Workplace Environment Can Affect the Productivity Of Employees

A workplace is a place where people collaborate with one another to bring out their maximum creativity and potential to push the company they are working for forwarding. However, the nature and general environment of the place has a major influence on the productivity and effectiveness of the employees. Even though individually taken, these factors seem simple, when they add up it becomes a big hurdle to the employees.

The first and foremost aspect of a good appreciable workplace is ample lighting. Lighting is something that a lot of employees notice, and almost 80% of all workers in studies say that it is a very important prerequisite for them. In-office spaces where people spend a lot of time in front of computers and screens, lighting that falls below a certain brightness can cause headaches, fatigue and strain on the eyes. It can also lead to a lack of focus in the employees and a general feeling of drowsiness among them, which can negatively affect their productivity. Hence, office lighting should be pleasant and cool which can promote the overall productive capacity. 

Temperature is another factor that might not come as a surprise, as people obviously find it difficult to work in an environment that is too hot or too cold. Even though there is no official temperature recommended for a workplace, keeping the room close to 21℃ to 25℃ is the ideal temperature for employees. This ideal temperature depends on the area and location of the workplace. If the temperature gets too hot or too cold, the employees’ productivity takes a significant hit. People often complain about lethargy, tiredness and fatigue when the temperature is too hot and mistakes tend to happen more often when the ambient temperature is too low. So maintaining the temperature within a comfortable range should be the goal.

Noise is a factor that often goes unnoticed but has a significant influence on employee productivity. Direct exposure to excessive noise for prolonged periods of time can cause headaches, ear pains, migraines and in some cases, even nausea. Loud sporadic intermittent noises like shouting and ringing phones can have drastic negative effects on the body as well. Studies have even shown that a conversation taking place within earshot of an employee can bring productivity down by 66%. All background noise needs to be locked down, which might require effort and can leave workers feeling fatigued and drowsy, unable to focus and more likely to make mistakes while performing their everyday tasks.

Believe it or not, humidity also plays an important role in the productivity of an individual or a group of individuals. This is usually something that affects That being said, low, high and inconsistent levels of humidity can all play a rather crucial role in an office space. The optimum humidity for a building can be anywhere between 30 to 50%, beyond which employees can start feeling sluggish and drowsy. Workers working in low humidity conditions are prone to nose, throat and itchy eyes, as well as nasty rashes and coughs. Even inconsistent humidity can adversely affect productivity. 

Carbon dioxide concentration in an office is an aspect that is often overlooked since hardly anyone ever notices it. However, in crowded offices, this is a very serious issue. When people actively put a lot of energy into their work, a lot of carbon dioxide is produced. This is not something that can potentially endanger anyone. However, over a prolonged period of time, the CO2 gets accumulated and can cause a lot of issues. Asthma patients are most likely to be affected first because of their condition, causing breathing problems for them. It can also affect the cognitive responses and decision-making skills of other employees as well. An effective way to work around this problem is having a lot of indoor plants which can not only lead to better carbon capture but also help set a pleasant aesthetic to the office space. 

Apart from the physical factors mentioned, there are also a plethora of emotional factors which need to be taken into consideration. The environment of the office should be such that all people feel included within the space. This can be as simple as actively engaging with a person or group of individuals to inviting them over for a friendly conversation after work hours.

Another thing employers can do is to provide employees with an initiative to stay in touch with one another and engage immersively. This ensures that none of the workers feels like their job is monotonous and tasteless. A mentally and physically fit employee is an asset to an organization at any point in time. 

If all of these things do not work, employees can move to a different location for work. Be it work from home, a different location within the office or even a coffee shop, a change in environment can directly impact the productivity of employees. However, the preference of the place of work depends on one individual to the next. While some people like to be surrounded by the dull drone of people talking in their midst, some other people like to be left alone, for that is when they are most creative. 

Hence, a lot of things need to be factored in while ensuring a comfortable place to work. Obviously, not all these factors can be incorporated together in one office, since it would be extremely time-consuming and sometimes even expensive. However, it is wise to bring in as many of these factors as possible because the happier the employer, the better will be their productivity.