In creating a more streamlined work environment, a lot of businesses have left out a few important components of the office. One of those is the psychological environment, in other words, how do employees feel about their office space and are they able to work at their peak potential everyday?
There are a few things that companies can to improve the productive, happiness and retention of their employees on a day to day basis. Optimizing the visual components of the office environment is crucial and according to multiple studies conducted by psychologists, plants play a vital role.
According to Dr. Chris Knight, psychologist at Exeter University who has been studying this issue for the better part of 15 years with his fellow colleagues, employees in lean work environments are 15% more productive when their workplaces are filled with just a few plants, concluding that employees who actively engage with their surroundings are better workers. According to one part of their study, it was found that offices with just one plant per square meter resulted in employee performance and memory retention test scores substantially improving. According to Dr. Knight, "what was important was that everybody could see a plant from their desk...where there's something to get you psychologically engaged you are happier and you work better." For more information, you can read this article from The Guardian.
Looking at a separate study conducted by researchers at Texas State University, data showed "significant differences in worker's perceptions of overall life quality, overall perceptions of job satisfaction, nature of work, supervisors and coworkers among employees who worked in office environments that had plants." The results also showed that employees who worked around plants felt better about the work that they performed. Compared to employees in offices without plants, employees rated their satisfaction much lower. More importantly, employees who had interior plants present felt better about their overall quality of life. It was also noted that there were no statistically significant differences among age, ethnicity, salary, education levels or positions. These results were consistent across the board.
To make a big difference in your office environment, the solution can be quite simple (and affordable). incorporating live plants in to the office can have lasting, positive impacts on employee happiness, productivity, and company culture. Make sure to check out our curated selection of indoor plants that are PERFECT for any office.
