Commercial offices are built around the idea that productivity is king. From the moment employees walk into them, everything is conspiring to make them do more.
But, of course, workspaces aren’t perfect. In fact, the latest data suggest that the majority of workers would prefer to be at home instead of toiling under their nefarious corporate overlords.
But it isn’t just the off-putting notion of having to put in a day’s hard cognitive labor that is turning many employees off. It is also the sensory experience of walking into an office.
“Smelly carpets are a problem in the world of offices,” says Premium Clean, a firm that specializes in reducing odor levels in corporate environments. “There’s often so much thoroughfare that companies simply can’t get a handle on all the particles being dragged in, leading to that familiar and unpleasant aroma.”
Fortunately, Premium Clean says that it is possible to get a handle on this issue. “Most businesses get around it by hiring cleaners who arrive early in the morning to get rid of the previous day’s detritus. Removing it quickly from carpets prevents it from becoming ingrained and releasing foul smells long-term.”
Bad odors aren’t just a negative for employees; they can also put clients off. Customers walking into an office for the first time don’t want to smell musty odors that remind them of old shoes. Being in an office should be a fresh experience.
“People will be surprised by how many businesses neglect to take care of their carpet odors,” Premium Clean explains. “For many, it is seen as an afterthought or unnecessary, but it can be a real issue, particularly for individuals with allergies. Carpets can emit particles that irritate the nasal cavity, throat, and lungs, causing all sorts of responses that companies would rather avoid.”
Bad smells aren’t the only issue, though, that puts people off commercial offices. Other problems are also endemic but often easy to solve.
Harsh Lighting
One obvious villain is harsh lighting. Many offices insist on blue light based on the outdated notion that it enhances concentration compared to, say, yellow light. Bright LEDs beam the equivalent of 100 watts down on the skulls of office workers typing on their keyboards below, making them feel exhausted and giving them eye strain.
“The use of harsh lighting in offices is a hangover from the early days of LEDs and the time when most companies were using cheap halogens to try to keep their bills down,” explains Premium Clean. “However, technology has moved on a lot since then, and companies don’t need to continue applying the same approach to get the results they want.”
The solution, according to experts, is to upgrade LEDs to those that mimic sunlight (minus the UV) or simply use natural lighting by expanding windows. These allow workers to align their body clocks and work more effectively throughout the day.
High Noise Levels
Another issue in offices is the high noise levels. Studies show that decibel levels can reach distracting proportions in some workspaces, preventing staff from working effectively.
The primary issue is loud conversations. Colleagues often speak in elevated tones in offices to get their point across, especially in board meetings and conference calls. Speaking into any sort of receiver seems to invariably lead to shouting.
However, noise can also come from other sources. Loud phone tones can be a problem, as can noise from photocopiers, printers, and office kitchen equipment.
These days, modern officers are figuring out the fixes to these issues. The most effective option is to simply divide space in the office more sensibly. Instead of subjecting colleagues to open-plan arrangements, many firms are now using varied workspaces with breakout areas for brain-storming, isolated meeting rooms, and private cubicles. These seem to offer the best of all worlds.
Temperature Issues
People also hate the temperature issues in some offices. Some seem to get excessively muggy in the summer and absolutely freezing in the winter with no middle ground.
Mostly, this effect occurs in poorly constructed public sector office buildings constructed in the 1960s and 1970s. These blocks often have pebbledash concrete walls, single-pane windows, and minimal ventilation. While they were cheap to put up, they subsequently made life difficult for their inhabitants.
“These offices are often the most challenging to clean because of condensation issues during the colder months,” says Premium Clean. “Moisture builds up around the windows and then drips down onto the frame, providing the perfect opportunity for mold to become ingrained. And once it starts growing, it is hard to remove.”
Fortunately, the situation in many buildings is improving. Higher standards are working. However, many offices still have problems.
One issue is the fact that different people enjoy different temperatures. Women, as a rule, prefer a hotter climate than men.
For this reason, firms are becoming more sophisticated in their heating systems. Companies are investing in zoned heating approaches that change temperatures in different parts of the building, and smart thermostats that respond to user preferences.
Broken Tech
Then there’s the problem of broken technology. Many offices seem well-equipped but, when you probe deeper, don’t have the functional equipment employees need to do their jobs.
The primary issue in the modern age is spotty Wi-Fi. It seems to work when colleagues place their laptops on one part of their desk, but it stops working on another.
Another issue is slow computers. Old desktops seem to grunt and squeal like 1990s machines, despite only being a couple of years old.
The trick here is to invest more in the underlying hardware. Cheap WiFi units don’t have much range, which is why the top companies never use them. Similarly, slow computers are simply a reflection of poor hardware and software management practices. Both must work in tandem for machines to perform.
“People dislike commercial offices for various reasons,” says Premium Clean, “but many of the issues they have are easy to avoid. It just requires some planning and maintenance, with outside help if necessary to keep everything running smoothly.”
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This post brought to you by Atif Sharif
Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels
