Only a few studies of the influence of ventilation rate on worker performance have been performed. However, a previous section has discussed the strong association of ventilation rates with health. In turn, health can influence productivity. Increased adverse health effects increase health care costs, may increase absence from work, and may decrease performance of workers while mildly ill but at work.

Figure 5. In laboratory studies, the speed of four work related tasks increased at higher ventilation rates as shown in this figure.

However, a carpet removed from a complaint office building was present in the laboratory; thus, we should not draw general conclusions from these results.

In a field study performed within a call center, work speed increased slightly at the highest of several ventilation rates (lowest CO₂ concentrations); however, it is possible that this increase in work speed was due to factors other than the ventilation rate. For two papers based upon this study click on the links below.

Increased sick leave clearly reduces productivity. In a study of office buildings, lower ventilation rates of 24 cfm per person were associated with a 50% increase in short-term absence (considered a surrogate for sick leave), relative to ventilation rates of 48 cfm per person. (LBNL-51289)