Why Beige? a Study of the Effects of Colors on Employee Morale.
Why Beige? A study on the effects of colors on employee morale.
HRM301
10/9/10
It is clear that the colors found one’s environment have affected their emotional state. When sitting at a desk for 40 hours a week it is important to maintain a positive attitude to increase productivity on daily assignments. The current beige walls in many offices may have the good intentions of producing a neutral environment, but do not provide the spark needed to maintain an effective level of concentration. Therefore, the wall color should be changed to orange to promote positivity in the workplace which will benefit the company through increased morale and productivity. Taking this discussion to the director of human resources at a fortune 500 company, it was explained that, “The walls came with the building, and I happen to like them” (W. Grommit, personal communication, October 8th, 2010). After reviewing the data on how the color change will increase morale, productivity, and company profits it was determined that it is in the best interest of the company to stop allowing college students interview their staff for academic purposes. Despite the arguments presented by several human resource departments, additional support for the hypothesis has been gained through a variety of studies. Significant data has been collected that shows the colors green and blue will have a calming effect on individuals that have regular exposure. In this same study it was found that orange and yellow exposure increases the cognitive processes of the test subjects (Rogers, 1999). This data provides direct support for the argument that adjusting the colors that are exposed to the workforce will have a positive effect on the accomplishments of the workers.
In conclusion, while an individual’s atmosphere may very well be affected by the colors it possesses, it is important to note that while changes may be practical, “the walls came with the building”. Despite the arguments against the
HRM301
10/9/10
It is clear that the colors found one’s environment have affected their emotional state. When sitting at a desk for 40 hours a week it is important to maintain a positive attitude to increase productivity on daily assignments. The current beige walls in many offices may have the good intentions of producing a neutral environment, but do not provide the spark needed to maintain an effective level of concentration. Therefore, the wall color should be changed to orange to promote positivity in the workplace which will benefit the company through increased morale and productivity. Taking this discussion to the director of human resources at a fortune 500 company, it was explained that, “The walls came with the building, and I happen to like them” (W. Grommit, personal communication, October 8th, 2010). After reviewing the data on how the color change will increase morale, productivity, and company profits it was determined that it is in the best interest of the company to stop allowing college students interview their staff for academic purposes. Despite the arguments presented by several human resource departments, additional support for the hypothesis has been gained through a variety of studies. Significant data has been collected that shows the colors green and blue will have a calming effect on individuals that have regular exposure. In this same study it was found that orange and yellow exposure increases the cognitive processes of the test subjects (Rogers, 1999). This data provides direct support for the argument that adjusting the colors that are exposed to the workforce will have a positive effect on the accomplishments of the workers.
In conclusion, while an individual’s atmosphere may very well be affected by the colors it possesses, it is important to note that while changes may be practical, “the walls came with the building”. Despite the arguments against the
References: Rogers, R.W. (1999). Workforce Psychology: An Introduction. New York, NY: Grambler & Smith.