The impact of light and sound in the workplace

Happy employees perform better. They are more productive, more creative and deal better with stress. One happy employee is 50 percent less likely to be ill, six times less absent and nine times more loyal. It is therefore not without reason that the function of Chief Happiness Officer was created. If the well-being of your employees is so important for your results, it's smart to pay attention to that. But what should you invest in?

Natural elements, daylight and rest are very important

It Human Spaces Report, carried out among 3,600 European office workers, shows a number of interesting results. For example, offices with natural elements such as plants and daylight increase employee well-being by 13 percent and productivity by 8 percent. 42 percent of respondents list daylight as their favorite feature. More than 40 percent of the Dutch respondents say they are more productive in their own office space. Only 17 percent of that group thinks they are more productive in a office garden.

Five key natural elements

Dutch employees want five natural elements in their favorite work environment:
• 55 percent mention daylight.
• 32 percent appreciate a quiet work environment.
• 22 percent would like real plants
• 16 percent prefer bright colors
• 14 percent say they like to be surrounded by natural materials.

Once again, daylight and rest, but also movement

Research by the Dutch Joyce Guldemond, a sociology student, confirms these results. She also concludes that employees who work in artificial light feel less healthy than when daylight is the primary light source. Her research also shows that employees who work in an office with a lot of noise pollution feel less healthy than employees who work in a quiet office environment. Guldemond adds the importance of movement. The more an employee moves, the healthier they feel. Short breaks, a walk to the coffee machine or to the toilet are important.

The impact of disturbing noises. And absolute silence.

In addition to large-scale studies, research is also being carried out on a somewhat smaller scale. For example, Peter Brems, reporter at the Belgian channel VRT, investigated the impact of interfering noises. It appears that the average volume at his editorial office — yes, an open-plan office — fluctuates between 45 and 80 decibels, far above the optimal 35 decibels. This bothers one of his colleagues so much that he wears special headphones that can filter out annoying noises. That's why he's jokingly called the 'Noise Blocker' for granted. However, absolute silence also appears to be maddening. In the so-called Microsoft anechoic room, the quietest place in the world with noise levels of up to -20.6 decibels — mind you: minus 20.6 decibels — no one can last long.

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