6 benefits of plants at the office

Time and time again, research into the perfect work environment shows that plants have a positive impact on the indoor climate at our offices, and on the physical and mental health of employees.  Below, we’ll run you through the six specific benefits plants bring to the workplace according to the latest research from around the globe.

Research

International research led by Dutch academic Marlon Nieuwenhuis in partnership with the School of Psychology at Cardiff University has shown that plants contribute to increasing our productivity by no less than 15%. Variables such as age and workload were taken into account as part of this research.

“Our research suggests that investing in plants at offices soon pays back in the form of improved quality of life and productivity for employees”, Nieuwenhuis comments.

Academics from the University of Exeter in the UK, University of Groningen in the Netherlands, and the University of Queensland in Australia were also involved in this research. A study published by Wageningen University & Research backs up the claims regarding the benefits of plants at the office. A work environment with plants was found to be more attractive than an environment without plants. In addition, plants contribute to a better indoor climate, as they produce oxygen, which in turn contributes to a higher humidity rate. These benefits help employees maintain a positive state of mind, and contribute to their wellbeing. Employees feel more at ease in offices with greenery: plants lead to greater satisfaction in how employees view their own performance, and lower levels of absence due to sickness. Alex Haslam, Professor of Psychology at University of Queensland, explains why employees experience this positive impact.

“Employees in green offices report greater levels of confidence when asked whether they believe their employer cares about their wellbeing.”

6 benefits of plants at the office

1. Humidity level: on average, the humidity level in rooms with greenery is 5% higher than in rooms without plants. In winter, that figure rises to as much as 17% higher.
2. More attractive: employees find workplaces that include plants more attractive.
3. Thermal comfort: employees report feeling less cold or hot in office spaces with plants.
4. Mental health: employees report feeling more positive when greenery is added to their offices. They also spend less time worrying outside of working hours when there are plants at the office.
5. Less absence levels due to sickness:people who work in offices with plants are absent due to sickness less frequently than people who work in offices without plants. Absenteeism in offices with plants falls from 36% to just 16%. This means that, on average, 1.6 fewer days per employee per year are lost due to sickness.
6. Performance: employees report greater levels of satisfaction with their own performance when surrounded by plants than they do in offices without plants.

The benefits of adding greenery to the office for employees are clear to see, but it doesn’t end there: the impact also extends to potential and existing clients. After all, a green office looks more inviting, homely, and atmospheric: the plants instantly make you feel at ease.