Case Study: Gavin – The HR Officer in the Spotlight

Case Study: Gavin – The HR Officer in the Spotlight

Dan Morgan-Williams, founder of Visualise Training and Consultancy, examines the hidden barriers that face employees with visual challenges.

Background: Gavin is a confident, sharp-witted HR Officer in a busy office. He lives with photophobia, a condition where bright or artificial light causes discomfort, eye strain, and headaches. He also has reduced contrast sensitivity, meaning bold colours and clear outlines are crucial for him to navigate both screens and physical environments effectively.

The Problem (or so we thought): Gavin’s desk was under a row of bright overhead lights. He joked that he felt like he was “being interrogated by MI5”. He wore sunglasses indoors, and his productivity was dipping — he was working late to make up for time lost due to migraines and screen fatigue.

Initial Assumption: Easy fix, right? Swap the lighting. So the company installed a dimmable desk lamp and turned off the overhead strip light above his desk. End of story? Not quite. The Deeper Issue: Despite the lighting change, Gavin still seemed uncomfortable. He wasn’t using the new lamp. He’d repositioned his monitor so the lamp wasn’t facing him at all. He continued to wear sunglasses and started avoiding team meetings, especially the ones held in bright meeting rooms or via video calls. During the Visualise workplace assessment, it became clear that the lighting wasn’t the only problem — it was the combination of factors:

- The light-coloured walls reflected harsh light into his eyes.

- His computer had a glossy screen with poor contrast settings.

- Video calls added extra glare from ring lights used by colleagues.

- He felt embarrassed asking for adjustments during meetings and worried about being “the awkward one”.

The Real Solution: Gavin’s support plan needed to be multi-layered:

- Matte screen filters and high-contrast display settings reduced glare and improved comfort.

- His desk was moved to a part of the office with diffused natural light, with wall panels added to reduce reflectivity.

- He received a lightweight visor that looked more like a sporty cap than medical equipment — something he felt more comfortable wearing in meetings.

- Colleagues received brief visual impairment awareness training, so they understood how lighting and screen setups affect people differently.

- Gavin was supported in developing a script to advocate for his needs in meetings, making him feel more confident speaking up.

Outcome: Gavin no longer works late. He attends meetings comfortably, his migraines have decreased, and he’s now helping champion inclusive practices in the HR policy review.

Key Takeaway: Sometimes the issue isn’t just “the lighting” — it’s the culture, the environment, the technology, and the unspoken pressure to fit in. A great workplace assessment looks beyond the obvious and unpacks the real story.

To find out more about how specialist holistic workplace assessments can support you and your team, visit https://visualisetrainingandconsultancy.com/workplace-assessments/visual-impairment-workplace-assessments/

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