The familiar drop in energy that hits office workers after 3pm may have less to do with a heavy lunch or a bad night’s sleep and more to do with the air employees are breathing, according to Logitech for Business ANZ.

The technology company is pointing to rising carbon dioxide levels, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and stagnant air in enclosed office environments as potential contributors to afternoon fatigue and declining productivity.

Logitech says that as employees spend hours together in meeting rooms and shared workspaces, carbon dioxide can accumulate to levels above 1,000 parts per million (ppm). And research suggests elevated CO2 levels can affect cognitive performance and productivity in office environments.

The problem can be compounded by VOCs emitted from furniture and other materials, along with dry or poorly circulated air generated by heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems.

Sean Byrne, Head of Logitech for Business ANZ, said the invisible nature of these pollutants means organisations can easily overlook the potential impact on employees.

Unlike temperature or obvious ventilation problems, CO2 and VOC levels cannot be detected by sight or smell, potentially leaving facilities managers unaware that air quality is deteriorating.

Logitech is advocating the use of environmental sensors to make those conditions measurable, allowing businesses to monitor conditions and identify when ventilation may need to be increased.

The company says the value of these sensors extends beyond simply displaying air-quality data, with the information able to be integrated into IT and facilities-management dashboards and shared with relevant decision-makers.

That could allow office managers to identify poorly ventilated areas and make adjustments before employees begin experiencing fatigue or discomfort.

“A sensor that sits quietly on the wall may be taken for granted, but it’s actually a major productivity lever office managers can pull without upending everyone’s working day,” Byrne said.

Logitech is promoting its Spot presence and environmental sensor as one option for monitoring workplace conditions. The device can track factors including CO2 and other environmental conditions, with Logitech saying its ability to integrate with a broader range of partners can expand the data available to workplaces.

The company argues that better environmental monitoring could help businesses tackle productivity issues without requiring major changes to how employees work.

For employers dealing with the familiar afternoon drop in energy, the message from Logitech is straightforward: before blaming the coffee, lunch or lack of sleep, check what’s happening in the air.

As workplaces become increasingly reliant on shared meeting rooms and enclosed collaboration spaces, environmental monitoring could become another tool for businesses seeking to improve employee wellbeing and productivity.