https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 14:14:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679681 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 14:05:50 +0000 MaryM 2679681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the office issue alone isn't something to complain about/quit over. </p> <p>When I first started here, I worked in an interior office with no natural light. Know what else it didn't have? Access to heat (it was an old building with steam heat and all the registers were along the windows). If the person across the hall from me wasn't in with their door open, I was freezing. </p> <p>We've done a few moves, and people freak out whenever shared space or lack of windows comes up. But in the end, someone is going to end up with a less than ideal space. </p> <p>And if you're fairly new, it sucks, but it's sort of the most fair thing for it to be you.</p> <p>ETA: In addition to lamps, I suggest plants that can survive in low light. Plants are proven to have a positive effect on moods. </p> <p>And when I didn't have a window, I did have a chalkboard. So I'd draw the weather on there when I started to feel down. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679671 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:55:33 +0000 annie624 2679671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Blech. Sorry, that stinks. I work in a windowless grocery store-turned-office building, so no windows. I'm also fairly certain I'm in the former frozen foods section because it's COLD! I do sometimes lose track of time if I'm working late because I can't gauge time on sun going down, etc. I brought two lamps in and it's provided a bit more "warmth." Just take lots of walks and try to eat lunch outside when you can, if possible. For now I'd try to stick it out. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679666 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:51:04 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2679666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Aspen: Since you're moving closer to your team, I think it's a logical move. In our old building, I had no natural light for about 3 years since I sat in a cube and the perimeter offices had solid walls and doors. If people closed their doors, no natural light.</p> <p>Now we're in a building that has floor to ceiling windows and glass offices. The people in the offices complain that they feel like they're in a fish bowl, while the people in cubes complain that the walls are too low and you can hear everything. Can't win!</p> <p>BTW, also in HR here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679653 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:41:36 +0000 Silva 2679653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've working in jail so an office without windows is no big deal to me. A coworker got one of those sun lamps, which he liked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679652 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:41:13 +0000 Aspen 2679652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the feedback everyone. </p> <p>I am HR and my boss is the HR Director so no help to be found there. </p> <p>I'm realizing that if everything else was going well this wouldn't bother me so much. The fact that it is getting under my skin is definitely a sign that I need to reevaluate my situation.</p> <p>The reason they gave me for the move is because the person moving into my office needs to be closer to the department over here, and with my move, I'll be closer to my team. My three colleagues all have offices where I'm moving, but they all have windows. We're all on the same level, just under the director, but I am the newest to the team. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679643 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:36:21 +0000 snowjewelz 2679643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where I have sat in the past 4 years, there isn no natural light to be seen. Very few office spaces have windows (only the perimeter offices), pretty much 95% of people don't have windows, even high level executives. I'm always like, is it raining? Is it snowing? What's going on outside?! </p> <p>I totally understand how you feel tho, esp being pregnant. I'd probably just stick it out till you leave, and if you have a moment, doesn't hurt to browse jobs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679621 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:22:24 +0000 mediagirl 2679621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an office with no windows and no natural light for about 6 years. I got myself a little natural light lamp for my desk and got myself an air purifier. Both made me feel better about my situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679611 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:15:58 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2679611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unless you thought that there was an unjust reason why youre being moved I wouldn't do anything about it. </p> <p>Especially in government work, there are bad office spaces unlike the real "corporate world". We have lots of people that work in our basement (2 floors) that are in cubical spaces down there. Nothing they can do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679605 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:11:10 +0000 psw27 2679605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This happened to me at my last job... I got moved to an interior windowless storage area turned office because another attorney's adult daughter decided to "play lawyer" a few days a week. (I mean... seriously. She had never practiced and had no clients but wanted to give it a try for fun.) Meanwhile, I was the youngest associate working the most hours. I was really insulted but I didn't say or do anything. We didn't have an HR department and no one would have taken it as anything but whining. Eventually I got an office back but it hurt my morale for a while. So no real advice, but sympathy that it sucks - especially if it is for no "good" reason. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679599 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:03:18 +0000 Anagram 2679599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Aspen: Did they say why they are moving you? There must be some kind of reason.</p> <p>I totally understand being sad. This is silly, but I work in a school and when I first asked about a room to pump, and saw that it was a cluttered storage room with literally boxes all over the place, I almost felt insulted. Like they were picking on me in some way.</p> <p>But I ended up pumping there for 2 kids and it was totally fine in the end--one benefit of that room is that no one else ever used it at all, so I didn't have to share it or worry about other people being in there. The only other choice was a conference room, which might have been nicer but also busier and I would have to deal with scheduled meetings, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679597 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:00:17 +0000 mrskansas 2679597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I say just suck it up (in the nicest way possible!). I work in an office full of cubicles and we have floor to ceiling windows all around the building however I can't see any natural light because I sit in a cube. I was in the same spot when I was pregnant and was fine.<br /> If you're unhappy with your job for reasons other than your office space, I would start looking while you are on maternity leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679594 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 12:59:23 +0000 yoursilverlining 2679594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't do anything, to be honest, and this isn't an issue I would go to HR over. To me personally, this also isn't an issue I would job seek over, but if you find you have the time and motivation I don't see any harm (?)</p> <p>When I worked for the government, I (and everyone else in my department) worked in the basement with no windows. At the last large corporation I worked for, a storage closet was cleared out and turned into an office for a head attorney - so natural light or windows, etc. At my current company, unless you're along the window row, you're in a cube or interior office farm with no direct natural light on most every floor. </p> <p>I get it, it sucks, but I don't think this is uncommon. Are you able to take walks throughout the day into the "newer" section of the building in order to break up your day and get some light? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679590 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 12:51:49 +0000 kiddosc 2679590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was laid off this summer when our hospital was acquired by a larger hospital system. I found a new job, but went from a private office with a wall of windows, to a cube farm with no natural light. It sucks, but it just kind of is what it is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679589 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 12:46:53 +0000 Mrs. Cereal 2679589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, I'm sorry you are dealing with this. I wonder if you can bring this up with HR? I'm not sure it really falls under a workplace environment issue, but it's worth a try. For the time being though, there are UV lamps that you can use that mimic natural sunlight, so that might help. Hugs! I can understand why you would want to start looking for a new job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-issue-moving-to-office-with-no-natural-light#post-2679587 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 12:44:14 +0000 Aspen 2679587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am feeling very down about my work situation. As a disclaimer, I am 29 weeks pregnant, very emotional right now, and trying very hard not to be dramatic.</p> <p>I started a new job in July, coming from a job at a national non profit that I absolutely loved for 9 years that had turned incredibly toxic toward the end. In my past position I worked from home and had the support of a work family who I had grown to know and love over many years. </p> <p>This new position is a government position so it's a big change culturally. Since July I have tried my best to learn this new culture, fit in, and do a good job. My boss is hardly ever around, will often cancel our one on ones last minute, and is the kind of person where trust has to be earned. </p> <p>I learned last week that they are moving me from my office in the "newer" wing of the building to an office in the "older" wing that is a converted storage room with no windows or access to natural light. I asked if the move could wait until I go out on leave and the answer was no. I'm having a hard time not feeling like the guy in Office Space who gets moved to the basement. I'm already so tired from growing a baby, how am I supposed to stay awake working in essentially a dark storage closet?</p> <p>What would you do? My inclination is to start looking for jobs when I go on leave but I don't know if I'm going to have the energy or capacity for it. This is killing my motivation.</p> <p>Thanks for listening! </p>