The #1 office perk

By Brian Maynor

 

When evaluating job opportunities, some of the most influential elements aren’t in the fine print, but rather in the perks offered to employees.

Some people are attracted to gyms, standing desks, nap pods, or “bring your pet to work day,” but the most consistently sought after perk is natural light and outdoor views.  According to a recent survey by Future Workplace, this perk even beat out on-site childcare.

Here is a look at why access to natural light and the outdoors is such a powerful perk:

1.   Most people feel deprived.  In the survey, over one-third of workers feel they don’t get enough natural light, with nearly half of them admitting the lack of a window in their workspace causes them to feel tired and melancholy.   Feeling tired aside, one neuroscience study found that people who sit by a window sleep on average 46 minutes longer a night than those who didn’t.

2.    It increases engagement and performance.  Access to natural light is often a top factor when employees assess a workspace, and a leading factor in feeling fulfilled with the work according to Gallup’s State of the American Workplace poll.  Natural light can also increase productivity, creativity and learning anywhere from 3%-40%.

3.    It helps balance our use of technology.  Adults over the age of 18 spend on average 4 hours a day looking at their phones.  According to the Future Workplace study, the more time we spend looking at a screen the more we need a physical break from them, and that break often comes in a craving for time spent walking outside or looking out a window.

4.    It’s healthier.  Working in natural light not only benefits our mental wellbeing including improving our moods, reducing stress and positively impacting our circadian rhythm, it has physical health benefits as well.  Cornell University found working in a space with natural light decreased reports of eyestrain, headaches and drowsiness due in part to the fact that exposure to sunlight regulates vitamin D, serotonin, and melatonin in our body and promotes healthy eye development.

Workspaces are no longer simply real estate issues.  They are now part of the overall employee experience and a crucial factor of attracting, engaging and retaining top talent.  With the average employee spending 5 hours and 42 minutes a day at their desk, providing access to natural light and the outdoors can be a deal maker or a deal breaker.

 

 

 

I’m always excited to hear from you, so please email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected].

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.