I think this is a testament to how bad flourescent and much LED and Halogen lighting actually is. This is not a limit of engineering, it's a consequence of trying to save money on lighting and energy without any consideration for the ergonomics of the light output. Staring at flicker all day is highly unpleasant (but so is trying to see a screen when natural sunlight glare is shining on it).
The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light
161–170 of 348 posts
Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light
#162Is 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.
We've got nice big windows and lots of natural light (most of the time) but we had to lobby our facilities manager to put in a switch so we could turn off the overhead fluorescent lighting.
Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light
#163Earlier quoted context omitted.
Next perk they gonna get is "breathable air"
I would like that, my previous assignment was in a very old (>50 years) office building with broken HVAC, temperatures were always at least 25 degrees (C), also in winter. And of course those at the windows would leave them closed to avoid the draft, so us scrubs at the far end would have nothing.
I get crappy air conditioning which blows slightly-too-warm air directly into my face and dries out my contact lens.
I've resorted to sticking a takeaway menu into the vent to stop it blowing in my direction.
Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light
#164Earlier quoted context omitted.
Certainly the EU. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A... : ”8. Natural and artificial room lighting 8.1. Workplaces must as far as possible receive sufficient natural light and be equipped with artificial lighting adequate for the protection of workers' safety and health. […] 10. Windows and skylights 10.1. It must be possible for workers to open, close, adjust or secure windows, skylights an…
"as far as possible"... I wonder how that is interpreted? Does that exclude buildings older than the code? Does it prevent new buildings from being constructed without these features? It would always be "possible" if enough money was spent on it (and you ignore other considerations, like historical values)...
> I wonder how that is interpreted?
* If the nature of what goes on inside a room conflicts with the presence of windows -- e.g. labs (say, a laser lab)
* if the room isn't meant to be used by humans (e.g. storage closets, server rooms) -- If humans sometimes enter such rooms that's OK, but it can't be their "assigned workplace".
Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light
#165
Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light
#166#1 Office perk: Not being required to be in the office.
Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light
#167Earlier quoted context omitted.
Certainly the EU. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A... : ”8. Natural and artificial room lighting 8.1. Workplaces must as far as possible receive sufficient natural light and be equipped with artificial lighting adequate for the protection of workers' safety and health. […] 10. Windows and skylights 10.1. It must be possible for workers to open, close, adjust or secure windows, skylights an…
"as far as possible"... I wonder how that is interpreted? Does that exclude buildings older than the code? Does it prevent new buildings from being constructed without these features? It would always be "possible" if enough money was spent on it (and you ignore other considerations, like historical values)...
It’s the EU, so you can count on it being reasonable.
The example I know of where it isn’t enforced is of people working inside a refrigerator. I can imagine security conscious jobs and radiology departments also may be exceptions.
It also doesn’t mean all rooms need windows or even natural light. Toilet rooms often don’t, for example, and storage rooms often only have windows high in the walls or in the ceiling (typically way more than in “a room with a view” in Cupertino :-) )
Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light
#168Earlier quoted context omitted.
I’ve worked in an office without windows, really takes a toll on you.
My favorite work site (outside of my home) was an interior office that I usually kept dark with the door closed. Time would fade away and I could focus on the problem at hand. I didn't keep a clock visible on my screen, and so sometimes I'd come out after 9pm. Other times, I'd be around 1pm or 2pm. I'd go take a walk if I wanted natural light or non-textual conversation. I would love for a similar setup at a future j…
That might be fine for a single person but having someone in your life means the monastic office thing isn't going to work out. You both need to get home at a decent hour, ideally coming and going at the same time everyday to keep schedules lined up if you want to spend any time at all during the week.
Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light
#169https://products0.imgix.drizly.com/ci-natural-light-4e47720c...
Is it really surprising that free beer is a popular perk?
Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light
#170Is 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.
We've got nice big windows and lots of natural light (most of the time) but we had to lobby our facilities manager to put in a switch so we could turn off the overhead fluorescent lighting.
In places where I don't have access to the light switch I just unscrew the bulbs nearest my desk.