3 Technologies to Build a Healthier Workplace

By Joe Gillis, VP of Sales, GVC - 29 Nov, 2018
Collaboration & UC Services
4 Minutes Read

Today’s advanced technology is helping to revolutionize healthcare by enhancing the patient experience. But technology is also making corporate workplaces healthier in many ways.

In the past, workplace health has focused predominantly on occupational hazards and worker safety. But today’s smart managers are concerned about everything from a healthy working environment to fostering good psychosocial health in employees by promoting a better work-life balance.

1. Tunable White LEDs Promote Better Health and Focus

For years, researchers have been studying the negative effects of fluorescent lighting commonly found in office buildings. While some of the concerns remain unfounded, it has been shown that the flicker of flourescent lights can worsen migraines and increase stress or anxiety. Some studies also show that the UV light emitted by fluorescent bulbs can increase the risk of eye diseases by 12 percent, as well as potentially causing cataracts. Circumstantially, many people simply feel drained and exhausted after a full day working under traditional fluorescent office lighting.

Enter LED lighting, a more energy-efficient light that has been shown to create a pleasing mood, while reducing worker eyestrain and headaches. Tunable white LEDs take the health benefits of LED bulbs one step further, with the capability to adjust the color temperature of the lighting to enhance the mood and focus of workers.

Tunable white LEDs can be adjusted, via a control system, to match color temperatures ranging from 6500K to 2200K, approximately the same color temperature as the sun on an overcast day. This is said to assist in maintaining circadian rhythms of workers, even when they are stuck inside at their desks, leading to more energy during the day and more restful sleep at night.

Programming tunable white LEDs to glow a brighter temperature throughout the day may increase employee productivity, enhancing workflow, creativity and communication. Dimming the lights to a warmer color temperature in the early evening as five o’clock approaches may also help with focus as the day wears on.

2. Telecommuting Options Keep Germs from Spreading

Most of us have been in an office with a sick co-worker, who is coughing and sneezing but stubbornly refuses to take a sick day. Or maybe you have been that employee with too much work on your plate, and too much of a commitment to your duties, to stay home.

Today’s videoconferencing and telepresence solutions are easy to use and reliable, offering immersive video and crystal-clear audio. Workers need not hesitate to take a sick day or work from home when they’re not feeling well. There’s no need to miss an important meeting when you can be there virtually.

As corporations adopt virtual reality and augmented reality for research & development, production, and engineering, even the most “hands-on” employees can work remotely with great results.

3. Unified Communications Promote a Better Work-Life Balance

According to a recent Gallup poll, 53 percent of employees say a role that provides them greater work-life balance is “very important.”

Employees who feel less stressed may take fewer sick days, make fewer healthcare claims, and are also at reduced risk of on-the-job injuries.

Effective unified communications (UC) enables employees to take time away from the office when they need to deal with personal matters during the workday while staying in contact with co-workers as necessary.

The ability to transfer calls and meetings seamlessly from a computer to a mobile device, read emails from anywhere, and stay connected via chat interfaces makes all the difference in allowing employees greater flexibility and freedom, which can improve their work-life balance while increasing productivity.

The Network Behind It All

The common denominator making these workplace wellness trends possible, from tunable white LEDs to enhanced UC, is a strong network. Managed services and robust, secure systems can enhance productivity by keeping your workplace data moving in the right direction. These professionally installed systems also provide the bandwidth to run the technology that helps keep your employees healthy.

 

Author: Joe Gillis, VP of Sales, GVC

Joe Gillis, a graduate of Loyola University, began his career with FTG Technologies, a New Era Technology company, in 2010 as an Account Executive. After proving his skills in team-building, client interaction, and developing strategic relationships, he was promoted to Sales Manager in 2012. Today, Joe continues to lead the sales team and serves as a member of the senior management team. When Joe isn’t leading the sales team he enjoys time with his young family and is an avid golfer. Prior to joining FTG, Joe worked for the PGA Tour within Tournament Operations.