At least there are big windows in the room with open offices. This is one of the reasons I prefer them.

That's why buildings with a large footprint are generally bad. But many levels is also bad because it creates division between people who work at different levels. A good compromise is a building with a large hollow area in the middle to let sunlight into the "inner" walls, and with not too many levels.

Now that I think about it, I suppose I almost never open my own blinds at home.

Not sure if sarcasm, but that is a perk in some places: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmn7tjSNyAA&feature=youtu.be

Well, you already have "ping pong tables", "snacks", "disrupting the world" and "open space floor plan" listed as perks quite often, so why not. It is a perk as opposed to no breathing air, so...

I would like that, my previous assignment was in a very old (>50 years) office building with broken HVAC, temperatures were always at least 25 degrees (C), also in winter. And of course those at the windows would leave them closed to avoid the draft, so us scrubs at the far end would have nothing.

Crazy for being sensitive to it :).

Yep, I've never worked in a room with windows. It leads to what I call coal miner syndrome: go in before the sun rises, leave after it sets. Bums me out, particularly during the winter. :(

Luckily, where I work now, we're getting a new office, and when the manager presented the plans, one of the first questions was, "Who gets the window seats!?"

I think their point was it's so obvious that it shouln't be considered a perk.

"I've worked in an office without getting paid, really takes a toll on you." Sounds ridiculous. Why would you work without getting paid? Same for natural light.

Likewise. It's insidious if you don't realise that's what's causing you to feel horrible. You start to think you hate your job, but it's just the workspace that's causing you to feel trapped and anxious.

Like some other people have mentioned, you start wondering if you might prefer to work construction or in a food truck or just anything so long as it's outside. But really you can get most of the way outside with a good office space and you may find you enjoy your job a whole lot more.

Eh. I don't get much light in my office which is in a basement. I haven't noticed much.

Always. Do cleared work (defense contracting) and you will never see the sun. I have to take regular walks outside during the day to say sane(-ish).

My favorite work site (outside of my home) was an interior office that I usually kept dark with the door closed. Time would fade away and I could focus on the problem at hand. I didn't keep a clock visible on my screen, and so sometimes I'd come out after 9pm. Other times, I'd be around 1pm or 2pm. I'd go take a walk if I wanted natural light or non-textual conversation. I would love for a similar setup at a future job.

If an employer doesn't offer remote work or a door, my rate goes up a lot.

" Around the edges of that room were managers' offices and a meeting room, which entirely cut off natural light."

That's pretty much my setup. It feels especially good to have managers with windows offices tell you to man up when you complain about lack of light.

In places where I don't have access to the light switch I just unscrew the bulbs nearest my desk.

Then they are entitled to more frequent breaks and/or extra leave days as part of their contract.

The satellite control rooms do indeed not have natural light. But all the people working there have another office with natural light they can use when their presence is not required in the control room (which is most of the time).