This is the initial post of a
two-part blog about the workplace, inspired by the CIPD HR Leaders’ Network
event on the topic.
“Space Matters” wise words from Neil Usher, the head of
Workplace at Sky, who was the main speaker at last week’s CIPD HR Leaders’ Network
evening. Late last year I suggested to
the CIPD that I bring together a collection of passionate advocates for
workplace strategy as, increasingly, I am of the opinion that leaders (both in
and outside HR) need to be mindful of the space and surroundings in which we
expect people to perform and be productive.
Selagas Cano Architects office, SpainPhoto by Iwan Baan |
Our environment (be that at home or at work) has changed significantly
over the past two decade and continues to evolve. Technology, transport, the
manner in which we work, collaboration, project-based targets, generational
expectations and capabilities – all of these have influenced the requirements and
individuals’ expectations of the place in which we work.
Making a place accommodating and
pleasant in which to work is certainly important – rudimentary necessities such
as clean, accessible lavatories/broader wash room facilities, sufficient air,
warmth, drinking water – are indeed a fundamental need.
However, there are other quite basic requirements that all too frequently are
ignored in deference to cost constraints. Personal, secure storage (especially
as “hot desking” is popular, combined with flexible working practices, which
often result in a change of clothing as a person moves from one environment to
another), employees need somewhere to keep their possessions.
Communal spaces
are important – as Lynda
Gratton says in her book Hot
Spots, we are at times energetic, positive social animals and will
congregate where we find a spark of energy (be that the water cooler, a vending
machine, local watering hole or around popular colleague’s desk) if not given
an area to meet and mingle we might miss out on enjoying the benefits of a Hot
Spot’s energy. Many of our best
and innovative ideas come from bouncing problems and concepts off others,
not from sitting in isolation in a cubicle or “Brainstorming” at a boardroom
table.
Intentional office Hot Spot |
Another basic, but often ignored,
human requirement is natural light – it is well known from numerous
research studies that daylight enhances human health – workers exposed to
daylight sleep,
on average 46 minutes longer than their natural-light-starved colleagues
and sleep has a huge impact of wellbeing, for example reducing stress levels. Yet
according to research, by Mental Health Research UK, one in ten workers in the
UK have no access to natural light at work and 30% of us leave before dawn and
return after dusk during the winter months.
Screen shot from The Apartment, 1960 No windows, no natural light, no colour, no view, no plants... |
We instinctively know that daylight
is good for us. SAD
afflicts many during the dark winter months and can have serious ramifications
– it is usually induced by a prolonged lack of exposure to natural light and
yet 46% of European offices provide no natural daylight. Employers have a duty
of care to their employees and, knowingly putting people into a situation that
is bad for them is wrong. It took us a while to appreciate the harm
from smoking and asbestos,
I suspect that depriving people of natural daylight will be seen in a similar
light in the future (excuse the pun).
De La Rue Technology Centre, Hampshire, UK |
Daylight is not to be confused
with sunlight. In a modern workplace sunlight can prove problematical, for
example by having an adverse impact on heat, especially in offices with large expanses
of glass, and the glare can make it hard to work (who hasn’t had problems
trying to see a screen in direct sunlight and pulled down the blinds – thereby
negating the positive efficacy of access to natural light?). However, these
problems are due to our technology and not an individual’s needs. We require sunlight
to produce Vitamin D (useful for healthy bones and teeth) and to encourage our
bodies to create vital hormones, which regulate the internal clocks that
influence our moods, appetites and energy levels.
Komorebi (Japanese word meaning sunshine through leaves) with credit to Jo Stephenson |
I am writing this post while
sitting in the garden – the sound of the birds, the warm sunshine on my skin
and the scent of the blossom is wonderful. I can feel myself perking up just by
sitting here. Fresh air and sunshine are good. It is proven that wounds heal
more swiftly when exposed to daylight and sunshine (Florence Nightingale
insisted that her
Nightingale Wards had their long
sides south facing, with a windows that could be opened between each single bed
to let in the sunshine and fresh air - the ensuing Edwardian habit of wheeling
the ill (especially those with Tuberculosis) and infirm in their beds out into
the sunshine was less misguided than some of us believe.
Bed-ridden patients getting fresh air City Hospital, early 1900s (Photo, City of Edinburgh Museums and Galleries Collection) |
It took the threat of biological warfare
to encourage two Ministry of Defence scientists, based at Porton-Down in the UK,
to undertake research
into the effect of sunshine and fresh air on bacteria. Henry Druett and
K.R. May were concerned by what would happen if deadly pathogens were exploded
over a major city – how long would the microbes remain a threat? To prevent the
bacteria being blown away, they wound cobweb around a comb and dusted it with
the common gut microbe, Escherichia coli. Some combs were placed in the open
air on the rooftop and others placed beside them in a covered container. Much
to the scientists’ surprise, the bacteria when exposed to sunshine and fresh
air died within two hours, whereas the enclosed samples were still thriving and
viable. This research might make us want rethink our attitude towards air conditioning.
It is so easy for bacteria or fungi to breed in warm, sheltered spaces. I am
aware of a couple of Directors severely poisoned by the unclean air pumped into
their offices after aircon filters were not cleaned or replaced for a number of
years – one’s lungs were reduced to those of
a 75 year old, despite being in her early 40’s and the other, who was
not so swiftly diagnosed, has since not been able to take on full-time
employment for nearly a decade. Increasingly employers will be held to account
for putting employees’ health at risk.
Often found in Air Conditioning systems |
While on the subject of nursing and
health – nurses provide a great example as to how sensible workplace design can
enhance employee health and wellbeing and also improve patient care. My
grandfather, whom I have mentioned in an earlier blog about
his involvement in the invention of the iron lung, was a medical professor,
based out of Guy’s Hospital in London (which, by coincidence, is one of the
hospitals in the Foundation Trust where I have the privilege of being a
Governor). Early last century he undertook research into the amount of walking
that a nurse does each day and found that over a third of the time spent at
work involved walking, with just over half being dedicated to actual patient
care. He argued that if you could reduce the amount of time getting to and from
patients and the nursing station, pharmacy, etc… there would be more time for
care. A similar
study in the USA a little earlier this century came up with the same findings.
At Guy’s and St Thomas’ we are trying to make the environment better for
patients and staff. Simple changes, like moving a facility away from the noise
and bustle of the public areas, has resulted in less mistakes and lives have
been saved by transferring the intensive care ward from the top floor to closer
to A&E at ground level – thereby reducing the time that a patient takes to
reach required support and treatment – time wasted in a lift. Changing a
workplace for the better does not require specialist knowledge – it just
requires the application of common sense and an appreciation of the fact that
“space matters”. But be mindful of Winston Churchill's words:
"We shape ours spaces and then they shape us."
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