Neurologist Patrick Aouad, who runs an online health platform for businesses, calls harsh fluorescent overhead lighting without any natural light a ‘design flaw’. He explains that constant artificial light can disrupt the body’s circadian‑rhythm clock.

Associate professor of organisational behaviour Libby Sander adds that many workers report eye strain, headaches, dizziness and higher stress markers when exposed to fluorescent and blue‑rich lighting.

Sander’s own research found that noise and distraction in open‑plan offices have a causal link to stress. She measured a 34 % rise in physiological stress and a 25 % increase in negative mood when background noise rose.

Michael Spinoglio, design director of a national workplace strategy firm, says fluorescent lighting spread because it was a cheap way to give uniform illumination across large floor‑plan offices. Designers at the time focused on cost and practicality rather than natural light.

When lighting and noise combine, employees may feel less calm and less able to work at their best, according to Aouad and Sander. The heightened stress can affect concentration, mood and overall productivity.

Both experts suggest practical fixes. Sander recommends offering flexible or hybrid work options and installing ‘circadian lighting’ that mimics the sun’s changing intensity. Such changes can lower the stress caused by harsh light and constant office chatter.