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The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

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Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#111
I work in a SCIF. The most natural light I get at my desk is the sun peeking out of the blinds in the morning. In addition, we keep most of the lights off, for that underground bunker aesthetic I'm assuming. One of the SCIFs here doesn't even have windows.

I don't mind it that much, and I usually leave work while the sun is still out. I can see some people having an issue with it, however.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#113
Currently working alone in my own windowless office in an almost completely windowless building. Compared to the previous 'open-plan' gig where I sat opposite opposite Jill-from-Comms and Sales-bro Bryan, it rules so hard.

So yeah,"the #1 office perk" for me is not getting interrupted with inane shit every ten minutes.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#114
post #97

Is this really considered a perk? It is a bit like getting paid is a perk. I work in Germany where direct access to natural sunlight is part of our OH&S policies.

With that openspace crap it hard to get the daylight even though the building has large windows. You sit somewhere in the middle of the raw, closer to the other end from the window and your colleagues close blinds because it apparently too bright for their dank dark color schemes in their editors.

At least there are big windows in the room with open offices. This is one of the reasons I prefer them.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#115
post #97

Is this really considered a perk? It is a bit like getting paid is a perk. I work in Germany where direct access to natural sunlight is part of our OH&S policies.

With that openspace crap it hard to get the daylight even though the building has large windows. You sit somewhere in the middle of the raw, closer to the other end from the window and your colleagues close blinds because it apparently too bright for their dank dark color schemes in their editors.

That's why buildings with a large footprint are generally bad. But many levels is also bad because it creates division between people who work at different levels. A good compromise is a building with a large hollow area in the middle to let sunlight into the "inner" walls, and with not too many levels.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It has been illegal to stuff people into room with no natural light in Denmark for at least 40 years. It can just be a skylight if you're in warehouse or factory. I believe that office workers are required to have actual windows and honestly I don't think even the employers think it's right to have windowless offices

> I don't think even the employers think it's right to have windowless offices As an employee, I hate this rule and would love a windowless office. Right now, I just keep the curtains closed all day.

Well, you can close a curtain, you can't usually get a sledgehammer and knock a hole in the wall if your office doesn't have a window and you want one.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#118
post #32

Is this really considered a perk? It is a bit like getting paid is a perk. I work in Germany where direct access to natural sunlight is part of our OH&S policies.

I’ve worked in an office without windows, really takes a toll on you.

Always. Do cleared work (defense contracting) and you will never see the sun. I have to take regular walks outside during the day to say sane(-ish).

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It has been illegal to stuff people into room with no natural light in Denmark for at least 40 years. It can just be a skylight if you're in warehouse or factory. I believe that office workers are required to have actual windows and honestly I don't think even the employers think it's right to have windowless offices

> I don't think even the employers think it's right to have windowless offices As an employee, I hate this rule and would love a windowless office. Right now, I just keep the curtains closed all day.

Could you explain why? Do you just prefer a dark room or are you distracted by activities outside your window?

I can't really imagine not being look out a windows during the day. Also I think I'd feel trapped without windows, not that I can just jump out my 3rd. floor window.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#120

Oh yes please. I work as a games programmer at a massive studio and it looks like 90% of people here prefer complete darkness during the day, to the point where they have these umbrella-like covers above their desks to cover any light from the lamps that somehow miraculously are still on. Me and few other people occupy a little corner next to a window that we stubbornly refuse to close the blinds on, despite bi-weekl…

Interesting to see that this seems like it might be a theme at game dev places. I remember reading in Masters of Doom about developers constructing similar makeshift structures to shield their workspaces from light at John Romero's company, Ion Storm.
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