How Commercial Glazing Can Transform Your Workplace Environment

Posted: 22nd December 2023

Toxic work environments have been getting a lot of attention recently – and for good reason. The simple truth of the matter is that when people are unhappy, they are less inclined – or even able – to produce their best work. More and more employers are becoming aware of the importance of workforce well-being. A positive, supportive and inclusive professional atmosphere will not only make the place a more pleasant place to be for everyone, it will also bolster a sense of pride and satisfaction in their efforts. This environment of employee happiness can be helped along in lots of different ways, but one of the most effective starting points is to design the physical space to be as workforce-friendly as possible. In their efforts to achieve this professional oasis, increasing numbers of employers are looking to commercial glazing to create the atmosphere and ambience they need. Here’s why:

Productivity

While it is true that artificial lighting is better than insufficient light levels, it can’t compete with the benefits of natural light. Exposure to daylight supports a healthy circadian rhythm. It is said that working in a day-bright space equates to three-quarters of an hour extra sleep a night compared to those who aren’t exposed. Energy levels are far easier to sustain and regulate when we’ve had proper sleep; lethargy is the nemesis of productivity.

Focus

Those who are exposed to sunlight find it much easier to engage with their work and to maintain focus once they have. Employees are far more likely to produce work of high quality and efficiency in an environment that allows more natural light in.

Staff Absences

Studies have shown that sick leave rates are far higher in places that have insufficient exposure to daylight. If your workforce appears to be taking a lot of sick days, it might be worth increasing their exposure to the positive effects of the outdoors.

Stress

Certain professional environments are naturally high-stress. Indeed, the right kind of stress can be a motivator. Incorrectly managed, however, and stress can easily be a destructive and distracting force. While creating a day-bright workplace won’t stop the causes of stress necessarily, it will go a long way to produce the conditions that will enable employees to better deal with it.

Collaboration

Having a light and airy atmosphere bolsters a sense of collective progress, community and collaboration. Happier people tend to find it much easier to work alongside or with others, particularly when that positivity is met with openness and enthusiasm. The foundations of any successful enterprise are based on teamwork; whatever can be done to promote this culture of cooperation is therefore a fairly safe investment. As well as the external glazing, internal commercial glazing solutions are an extremely effective way to achieve this openness in a workplace. Feeling part of a group is far easier when you can see one another.

Sales

In sales-driven professional environments, simply increasing the amount of natural light an indoor space is exposed to has been shown to increase business. This is no doubt connected to the mood of the workforce to some extent, but whatever the reason, it’s surely a win-win for all concerned.

Noise

Commercial glazing is hard to compete with when it comes to sound insulation. Having a noisy workplace can be devastating to the productivity of a team. This is just as true of the ambient levels allowed to filter through from the outside of the building as it is of the sounds that travel through it, from room to room. External commercial glazing is ideal for those who wish to maximize the amount of natural light their indoor space is exposed to while keeping it acoustically separate; internal systems allow this light to flow through the building uninhibited while maintaining the peaceful sanctity of those spaces.

Overall health and well-being

The sheer volume of literature available on the connections between Vitamin D exposure and general health and well-being is staggering. Here in the UK, where many of us spend 90% of our days indoors, getting enough natural light is a growing concern among healthcare professionals. Vitamin D helps combat depression, anxiety, fatigue, chronic pain and a whole host of other difficulties and ailments. It’s amazing to think that so many of us would be so much better off with just a little increase in our exposure to sunshine – even on overcast days – but the evidence is hard to ignore. Put simply, just about every aspect of a workforce’s performance will see a drastic boost when they are happy in their work. One of the easiest and most fail-safe ways to make this improvement is to maximize the amount of natural light your workforce benefits from.

Property value

Commercial glazing can add a significant amount to the resale value of your workplace. On the external shell of a property, the sleek and professional look of commercial glazing is a real plus for many potential buyers. While this still holds true of internal glazing systems, another important benefit is their flexibility. Those who might be interested in buying a property will be heavily incentivized by the fact that they can quickly and easily customize the space if it isn’t quite right for their needs.

Utility costs

Having to rely on electricity to provide enough light for your indoor space can be expensive. Any reduction in this reliance is therefore a sensible investment for any workplace – and that’s before we include the ecological benefits. Feeling as though our best interests are being catered to will obviously make anyone approach their work with more diligence and positivity; when the same efforts contribute to a reduction of outgoing costs, too, then we’re moving into the territory of common sense.

Sunlight – Nature’s medicine

There’s a reason many of us associate holidays with sunshine: exposure to natural light makes it easier for us to enjoy ourselves and have fun. A trip to somewhere warm is often described as a chance to recharge the batteries – a little extra daylight simply means they won’t be so drained in the first place.