As the name suggests, Switchable Smart Glass can be switched from frosted to clear offering privacy on demand via a wall switch, remote or even voice controlвЂ¦ вЂњAlexa, switch my glass!вЂќ Switchable Smart Glass already plays a valuable role in offices and will continue to do so as we find our feet in the new normal. So, how do you reimagine your office environment and pack it with natural light? Yes, we canвЂ™t all create indoor rainforests and jungles, but there are changes you can make. Vitamin D levels will improve in an office packed with natural lightД«ringing more natural light into the office with Switchable Smart Glass This is a space packed with natural light and one where ideas are surely born. This is the thinking behind AmazonвЂ™s workplace in downtown Seattle вЂ“ the Spheres вЂ“ which houses a curated jungle with over 40,000 plants. Spaces packed with light and greenery encourage thinking, reflection and an ability to step away from the day to day for more blue- sky creativity.ДЄ dingy office is a real creativity killer. Workers in lighter spaces are 15% more creative. And with a better nightвЂ™s sleep behind them, it means higher levels of concentration and an increased ability to focus on work. Again, according to the Northwestern University of Chicago and one of their studies, employees with better access to natural light slept for an average of 46 minutes more each night. Just as melatonin and serotonin play a part in mood, they also impact sleep. And happier employees mean more productive and focused workers.

So, more light means better mood amongst your workforce. The crucial bit for employee mood is that these are the same natural substances which play a part in combating seasonal affective disorder. A lack of sunlight is thought to impact the hypothalamus which is the part of the brain that affects the production of the hormones melatonin and serotonin, which regulate sleeping and waking cycles and in effect act as the bodyвЂ™s internal clock. Research from the Northwestern University of Chicago found that natural light boosts the mood of employees. The benefits of natural light in the officeД«ut is this actually the case? And what are the key benefits of natural light for both employee well-being and performance? 1. One study found that it was the number one office perk desired by staff, while the Future Workplace Employee Experience Study found that 78% of employees feel that it improves their well-being, while 70% cited it as assisting with improved performance at work. The first thing to note is that natural light is something employees want and feel they need at work. But how does this translate to office spaces? Employees want natural light in the office The importance of natural lightДЄccording to the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, natural light in the morning can significantly improve mental well-being in relation to depression, agitation, sleep, circadian rest-activity, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Employee mental health must be a key consideration for the offices of the future and increased natural light can play an important role in this. Some people have thrived working from home, others may have experienced loneliness and isolation, as well as increased anxiety. The mental health of employees is also crucial and has been a key topic during the pandemic. Changes include desk spacing, hygiene measures, cleaning procedures, a clutter-free space, and a change of mindset towards employee health and safety. Safe working is essential for offices in the current climate.

Many businesses will likely be forced to revisit previous flexible working policies conscious of the lack of appetite for the five day working week in the office amongst employees.Д«ut the office will always remain. Current data also suggests that around 60% of UK office workers wish to alternate between working from home and the office when it is safe to do so.

The office mix