Natwerk Designs

Does weather/climate impact employee productivity and impact on innovation of products?

Do you think weather affects innovation or productivity, for example California seems to have privilege of good weather, hence the best talent prefers to live here, which leads to innovation and always has pioneers here.

Public Comments

1. i don't think so - generally. I do think extreme heat might lower productivity. California has 3 great benefits most places don't have= LOTS of colleges with very low tuition at most community college, a history of successful tech start-ups - which encourages other start-ups, and due to that last point, it has venture capitalists just waiting to invest in the next hot thing.
2. It certainly could, in a couple of instances at least, for very practical reasons: If the weather is severe enough to impede people's getting to their offices (blizzard, flash floods, tornados etc.) and the staff doesn't telecommute, you wind up with unplanned down time due to weather, also certain areas are "allergy capitals"...if the staff is suffering with hay fever, etc. that tends to dampen creativity, productivity and attendance. Just so you have a different perspective, there are lots of bright, creative people outside of California. In fact, some of us deliberately choose NOT to live in California.....between the smog, earthquakes, wildfires, horrendous traffic and long commutes, ridiculously high house prices, and insane laws....there are much more sane places to live in this country!
3. No. Actually adverse conditions tend to offer better innovations that are more real world based. You adapt. Redundancy usually becomes a key factor as well. You can't beat mother earth, however you can defend yourself to a point. She tells us how its going to be. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdZ8uG_RbSc&feature=related