Effects Of Air Quality In The Workplace

The effects of air quality in the workplace is a topic that’s widely studied and discussed, and is something that has grown in importance significantly since the beginning of the pandemic. COVID-19 was identified as being an airborne virus that is particularly contagious, which led to the shutdown of offices and other workplaces nationwide that housed nonessential workers.

What may come as a surprise is that most of the effects of air quality in the workplace were understood and very much present prior to the pandemic, too. Whether or not these effects are positive or negative comes down to the air quality itself, and the measures taken to manage air quality. There’s no shortage of credible academic and scientific material online on this topic, but we’ll save you some time. Here are the effects of air quality in the workplace:

Absenteeism

Good air quality won’t account for all of the attendance or lack thereof, but poor air quality in the workplace will certainly cause more absenteeism, and that affects your company’s ability to provide quality work in a timely manner. Think – poor air quality in the workplace leads to sickness, and that means more sick days!

Productivity

To make it simple, good air quality in the workplace enables better cognition, which means employees are more productive, and this is obviously good. On the other hand, poor air quality in the workplace has been found to harm cognition and make employees less productive, which is bad. Don’t take our word for it – it’s from a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health.

Satisfaction & Consequences

Employee satisfaction is another matter affected by air quality in the workplace. Whether or not poor air quality has an effect on your employees’ cognition (see previous section), it will have a certain and separate effect on employee satisfaction. Spoiler alert: the effect is negative. Failing to maintain a good and healthy air quality in the workplace may suggest to your employees that they are not valued, or that their health and the conditions they work in are not a priority to you. Low employee satisfaction leads to lower productivity and higher turnover.

Reputation & Talent Acquisition

A bit different than the previously discussed effects, air quality in the workplace can affect your company’s reputation and ability to acquire talent. In other words, its effects can supersede the confines of your workplace and have consequences in your company’s future, and not just the present. Poor air quality may, through both your employees and your customers/clients, harm your company’s reputation and cripple your ability to attract and acquire talent in the future.

—–

If you haven’t figured it out yet, the quality of your workplace’s air is very important. Good air quality will have positive effects, while poor air quality will have negative effects. If you have questions or concerns about the air quality in your workplace, visit our website or give us a call today – we’d be happy to help you!