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The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

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Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#61

Post by Kalroth »

mrweasel wrote: post #16
sarabande wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which countries?

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

Yup, the Danish Working Environment Authority is pretty clear about it.

There has to be a source of natural daylight and there must be clear windows that you can see through. Of course there are always exceptions, but they are just that.

https://arbejdstilsynet.dk/da/regler/indeklima/belysning-og-...

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#62

Post by kaybe »

matwood wrote: post #46
yitchelle wrote: post #20

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'm sure there are exceptions. What if the worker is in an office handling German classified materials all day?

The satellite control rooms do indeed not have natural light. But all the people working there have another office with natural light they can use when their presence is not required in the control room (which is most of the time).

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#63

Post by coldtea »

pluma wrote: post #48
pi-err wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IIRC Germany sort of requires all offices to have direct natural light https://www.thelocal.de/galleries/lifestyle/top-ten-weird-ge...

That list is terrible: 3: pillows may be considered passive weapons but that is irrelevant unless it is used as such or carried in a context where it is likely intended to be used as such (e.g. while participating in a demonstration). That said, assaulting random people in public with a pillow is probably still illegal because it involves assaulting random people (albeit with a weapon that's less likely to cause perm…

>Treating police officers disrespectfully is a misdemeanor

This sounds like an Weimar Republic quality law... it could be worse, of course, in the US they can just kill you if they feel like it and you're sufficiently black or poor...

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#64

Post by coldtea »

dsfyu404ed wrote: post #22
Tor3 wrote: post #7

In some civilized countries natural light is actually a requirement, by law. Not in the server closet etc, but in your office it is. You can, of course, adjust the curtains or whatever to get the exact amount you prefer (which typically changes throughout the day, as the sun passes)

Of all the thing that make me thing "there ought to be a law" natural light seems like it should be way down the priority list. edit: And yes, I've worked in places with and without natural light, both white collar jobs and near minimum wage jobs. Comfortable temperature for the amount of physical activity I'm being asked to do and a comfortable amount of space in which to work are both a million times more important…

That's because they haven't stuffed you in a sunless factory to work double shifts...

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#66

Post by Nursie »

yitchelle wrote: post #20

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.

In some offices, yes.

I worked for a large department in a huge corporation about 3 years ago. Around half the department sat in a large cube-farm room. Around the edges of that room were managers' offices and a meeting room, which entirely cut off natural light.

It was like a vegas casino in there, perpetual half light, no concept of time of day. Really depressing. I was glad I got to sit upstairs by a window.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#67

Post by amanzi »

escapologybb wrote: post #54
SmellyGeekBoy wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In a work environment? I find it hard to believe you spend 8 hours every day lying on your back staring at the ceiling. If you do, it absolutely can't be healthy.

My bad, forgot a probably pertinent piece of information. I am quadriplegic. Whilst technically yes I am in a work environment because I run my own company from home, you are quite correct that I am not in a work environment with other people. Mea culpa, Mea maxima culpa.

"probably pertinent piece of information" - lol, quite the understatement!

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#68

Post by coldtea »

SmellyGeekBoy wrote: post #45
escapologybb wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

^ This: I don't know how people do it, I'm using my computer in the dark at the moment with the screen being projected onto the ceiling. I can't think of another way I would rather use my computer really.

In a work environment? I find it hard to believe you spend 8 hours every day lying on your back staring at the ceiling. If you do, it absolutely can't be healthy.

>If you do, it absolutely can't be healthy.

Compared to what, sitting?

We already spend 8 hours "lying on our back" every day -- sleeping, and we have evolved for it. It also puts little pressure in our body compared to sitting for hours on end.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#69

Post by coldtea »

Kiro wrote: post #34

I always have all the blinds closed in my apartment and I work from home. I get very little natural light. Any reason I should force myself to get more?

If you don't care for your health, no. In any case, the ill effects will only show up after decades of such a habit (and they wouldn't be directly and easily attributed to it), so no need to be concerned with it now.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#70

Post by ionised »

rsynnott wrote: post #40
dsfyu404ed wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of all the thing that make me thing "there ought to be a law" natural light seems like it should be way down the priority list. edit: And yes, I've worked in places with and without natural light, both white collar jobs and near minimum wage jobs. Comfortable temperature for the amount of physical activity I'm being asked to do and a comfortable amount of space in which to work are both a million times more important…

There's a fair bit of evidence that not seeing natural light has health effects, AIUI. In that sense, it's just like any other workplace health and safety rule.

It's not even just about seeing, we get most of our vitamin D from sunlight.
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