Is your cubicle too dark? One of the top workplace pet peeves in cubicle environments is that the workspace is dim. Sometimes this is due to lighting; causing eyestrain as workers peer at computer screens. In other cases, the lighting isn’t the issue – it’s a deeper problem.

One solution is to drop cubicle walls, allowing more natural light from far away windows to reach each workspace; another idea is to use panel extenders to provide a higher wall so a small light can be installed, providing each worker with the amount of light he or she needs.

Other tips can include using cubicle partitions that help reflect light, teaching employees how to alter brightness and contrast on their monitors, adding space to cubicles by expanding their footprint, and allowing employees to decorate their offices – sometimes dark and gloomy is just a perception, and a little change is all that is needed to fix a negative view. Panel extenders can help here too – allow workers to indicate how much privacy they need and how much open air head-space.

How does your office deal with cubicle gloom?