The average office worker only sees daylight for 52 minutes a week
Nine in 10 rarely glimpse daylight during the winter months as they arrive at and leave work in the dark.
A survey revealed the average person will only leave the building for a total of 52 minutes during the week.
But two-thirds admit there are at least two weeks in every month where they don’t spend any time outside at all.
Just under half of office workers believe their work suffers as a direct result of the lack of sunlight - with productivity dropping rapidly from around 2pm.
Afternoons are often therefore spent with people feeling lethargic and unproductive
A survey spokesman said: “During the winter months many people will leave for the office before the sun comes up around 7:45am and leave after it goes down at about 4pm in the afternoon.
“As such, the only opportunity people get to enjoy fresh air is during a lunch break - and that’s only if they have time and inclination to take one.
“Unfortunately, this study seems to indicate that even when people do have the time to take a lunch, the weather and gloomy outlook means people can’t be bothered to go outdoors to stretch their legs.
Around half of office workers believe their work suffers because of a lack of sunlight
“Afternoons are often therefore spent with people feeling lethargic and unproductive.”
The study shows two thirds of office workers will start finding it difficult to concentrate by the early hours of the afternoon in winter as a direct result of being stuck inside.
A further four in 10 find themselves day dreaming if they have been sat at the desk most of the day, while 24 per cent start to make lots of mistakes.
A fifth of workers find it increasingly difficult to pay attention during meetings as the day progresses, while 43 per cent get side-tracked easily.
Thirteen per cent of people polled admitted they often feel the need to have a little sleep at their desks during the winter months.
Two-thirds admit there are times where they don’t spend any time outside at all
One in 10 people are unable to answer the phone coherently if they haven’t had enough sunlight, while seven per cent have been known to send emails to the wrong people.
And a lack of access to the outdoors does seem to affect people’s overall health and well-being on a day to day basis.
The findings indicate people are more likely to feel tired and lethargic without sunlight - 36 per cent will also feel grumpy and 34 per cent feel unmotivated.
Sixteen per cent don’t feel able to function properly if they haven’t moved from the desk all day, while 28 per cent say their mood switches from happy to depressed if they have to stay inside.
But despite knowing winter is all about shorter days and a lack of light, two thirds of office workers are less likely to try and take a lunch break in the colder season.
More than eight in 10 people don’t like to go out at lunch if its too cold, and 42 per cent find the outdoors too dark and depressing.
Cycling, running, walking to and from work and exercise in general are all likely to wane during the winter months.
Instead, people will eat more food, drink more alcohol and lead an altogether unhealthier lifestyle.
The study indicates two thirds of people will watch more movies in winter, 14 per cent will play more computer games and four in 10 people will spend longer in their pyjamas.